Park University's women's basketball program scooped up a road victory in Lamoni, Iowa against the Yellowjackets of Graceland University on Saturday, defeating the home team 64-61.

Park with their second win in a row has brought their record back to .500 on the season at 10-10 and are working with a 7-9 Heart of America Athletic Conference record. They match Graceland with a 7-9 conference record and the Pirates and Yellowjackets have the 6^th and 7^th spots in the conference standings as of now. Graceland is a game back from Park on the season at 9-11.

Both teams have been formidable opponents to one another and the season series is 1-1.

A 6-0 run began the game for the Yelllowjackets and they had multiple possession leads varying between six points and five points. Two early three-pointers, the first six points for Park, by Emma Perry was exactly what the doctor ordered to prevent a larger run to snowball for the Yellowjackets in the first quarter, as the Pirates kept it close at 19-14.

A 4-0 start to the second quarter put pressure back on Park, as the Yellowjackets led by nine points, 23-14. Back-to-back buckets by Angel Wiggins and two free-throws by Iva Drobnjak was key to get back right at 25-20 with 5:37 left in the half. There was a break in scoring after a Graceland make from 5:08 to 2:43 on the game clock for both teams. The Pirates from this point though took the reigns led by Drobnjak with a jumper and lay-up to get back within a possession, 27-24. In the final three minutes of the half, Park went on an 11-4 run to knot things up at 31 to end the second quarter.

Nevaeh Spillman and Mikayla Artis boosted the Pirates in the third quarter, offering a 6-0 run for Park to overtake Graceland for the first time, 37-32. The Pirates would not let the lead switch over to the Yellowjackets, but Graceland did manage to tie the game two more times in the third quarter.

The closeness of the play of these two teams was felt and was no different in the fourth quarter. The Pirates took their largest lead to this point of six points, as Wiggins opened the quarter with a layup, Perry hit again from three, and Drobnjak recorded a steal and score to go up 54-48 with 7:11 remaining. Drobnjak showed off the range with a three-pointer to give Park a nine-point lead at 6:31 to go as well, 57-48. It was good management of the time and possessions by the Pirates down the stretch. Despite good fight by the Yellowjackets to trim the lead back to 59-56 with 1:36 remaining, Perry was clutch yet again with a three-pointer to go ahead 62-56. This was much needed as Graceland hit a three-pointer as well, but it would be of no consequence, as Perry made two more free-throws to give her 20 points for the game and delivered victory to her squad, 64-61.

Four three-pointers were made by Perry in Park's five-of-17 day from behind the arc. Graceland was a similar five-of-16.

Graceland was 39.7-percent from the field to slightly overtake Park at 37.7-percent.

An advantage went to the Pirates from the line with a 13-of-16 day, while the Yellowjackets were six-of-nine at the strike.

Another big factor in the final result was 24 turnovers by the Yellowjackets to only 16 by the Pirates. 27 of Park's points were off of turnovers, while 15 of the same were recorded by Graceland.

Only one lead change took place, but there were eight ties.

Drobnjak was next in line in scoring with 15 points and joined Artis with four steals for the game.

Wiggins was making plays on both ends with 11 points, six steals, and five rebounds. Spillmann and Perry also had five boards, Spillman also had an effective day with eight points.
Artis was the leader in rebounds with 11.

It's a short turnaround this week as Park makes up their postponed matchup with Culver-Stockton College on Monday, January 29 in Canton, Mo. WATCH
Box Score