Park University's women's basketball program returned to Breckon Sports Center for their second non-conference contest of the season, both against Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents. This time the Spires of University of Saint Mary bested the Pirates 61-58.

For both teams, this was their second game and each came into this contest 1-0. After Saturday, the Pirates are now 1-1 and the Spires are 2-0.

A 20-8 first quarter was a tough start for Park, despite having a 6-2 lead through the first three minutes of play. Three three-pointer for the Spires boosted them though in their 18-2 run.

Three-point shooting continued to be on display for the Spires with another set of three shots from deep in the second quarter. Emma Perry for Park began the second quarter with a smooth three-point shot of her own to bring it to 20-11. There were not many opportunities for Park to get a scoring run together as the Spires always seemed to have the answer with a even matched second quarter. At the half, the Spires extended their lead by one to a 13-point margin, 33-20.

The third quarter was shift in three-point field goals as Perry, the transfer from Southwest Baptist, began to catch fire going three-of-three from beyond the arc. The Spires were only able to hit on one of three from the same. With a quick three-pointer to start the quarter, Park was then in a position to come back from 18 points. Following a timeout from Head Coach Norman Kenneth Cooper Jr., Park was able to put together its best quarter of the game with 20 points to the Spires' 11.

In the last 5:11 of the third quarter, Park put together a 14-2 scoring run to put Park in a potential comeback spot down four, 44-40. Angel Wiggins, the second year Pirate had four points in that run while Perry had six. Perry finished with 15 points and contributed four rebounds.

Makayla Artis then led the charge in the fourth quarter with eight points. For the game, she led all Park scorers with 18 points and was the leading rebounder with a double-double number of 14 boards.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the fourth quarter to keep the margin around five or four points, but then a significant scoring drought over three minutes and some change only produced a 2-0 run for Park over the Spires at 51-48. It continued to be a good effort by the Pirate, including Taylor Shelby's drained a three-pointer in the last 37 seconds to bring it to 58-55. Park continued to gain on the Spires at 59-58 after an Artis layup on an offensive rebound, but two free throws by the Spires was enough to close out the game without allowing Park to take another shot, 61-58.

Shelby had seven points on the night along with her teammates Wiggins and Eden Billups who contributed six and five point performances. This trio also had three assists each.

Despite not starting off hot, the Pirates finished the game 5-of-11 from three or 45.5-percent to the Spires 8-of-27 or 29.6-percent.

There were eight more turnovers committed by the Spires in the game at 24 to 16, but Park only managed three more points off of those turnovers at 15 to Saint Mary's 12.

The Spires as whole shot it slightly better from the field at 37.7-percent to Park's 33.9-percent. Both teams were similar from the free throw line as well at 13-of-20 for the Spires and 11-of-22 for Park.

Thursday, November 9 will be the next home contest for the Pirates against Haskell University at 5:30pm.  WATCH
Box Score