Park University's women's basketball program traveled to Atchison, Kan. for their first matchup of 2024 against the Ravens of Benedictine College. After four tough quarters, the Pirates were defeated 84-61.

Park is now 6-7 on the season and 3-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while their counterpart is now 10-4 on the year and 8-2 in the Heart. It's been a tough string of games for Park as this marks a three-game losing streak in conference play against formidable opponents.

The Ravens shot a season best 14 made three-pointers for 46-.7-percent, while Park was only two-of-17 of the same for their season low of 11.8-percent behind the arc.

After a 5-0 start for the Ravens, Mikayla Artis and Taylor Shelby got Park back on the board to cut the lead to 5-4. An 8-0 run put Benedictine back in a favorable position with 5:45 remaining in the first quarter. Angel Wiggins led Park in the first quarter with four points, scoring both of her buckets within the last three minutes as Benedictine settled in at 22-12 for the quarter.

It took 2:22 for the first points to be registered in the second quarter by Benedictine moving to a 24-12 lead with 7:38 to go. Emma Perry sank a three-pointer to end the drought for the Pirates at 6:26, after the Ravens went on a 5-0 run to begin the second quarter, 27-15. Seven of Park's 18 turnovers for the game were recorded in the second quarter, while Benedictine had 15 for the game. It would be another 1:28 before Benedictine would score again, which was immediately answered by Perry at 4:30, 29-17. In the last 4:12 of the half though, Benedictine nailed four three-pointers to pull into a 41-23 halftime score.

It was a good start to the third quarter by both sides and Nevaeh Spillman earned four points in the first 2:39 of play. It looked back-and-forth between these squads down the stretch in the third quarter, but Park gained some ground in the last 2:56 with a 9-0 run, including four points by Artis and five by Perry, to put Park within 10 points at 55-45. The Pirates had 24 points in the third quarter, their most in the game.

Entering the final quarter, the deficit was 11, but a 16-0 scoring run through the first 4:00 of the fourth quarter boosted the Ravens to an insurmountable 27-point lead, 74-47. The Ravens had their strongest scoring quarter of the game with 26 points. Benedictine was able to control things until the final horn sounded for the 84-61 victory.

The Ravens shot 47.0-percent from the field, while Park was at 35.8-percent.

The turnover differential was slim, but the points off those turnovers is something to note as Benedictine doubled Park with 22 points compared to 11.

Park got it done from the strike with 11-of-14 compared to just 57.1-percent, eight-of-14, from the free-throw line for Benedictine.

The Ravens showed they could score up and down their lineup, as nearly half their points came from their bench at 41.

Perry and Wiggins were each in double-figures for Park in scoring. Perry led with 18 points, tying her season-high, while Wiggins contributed a solid 13 points.

Artis gave great effort throughout the game with seven points and a team leading nine boards. Perry was next in line with six rebounds for the game.

Iva Drobnjak recorded seven points as well with two assists and steals each.

Saturday, January 6 is the next game slated for Park, as they are scheduled for a matchup with Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. at 2pm. WATCH
Box Score