The Park University women's basketball program has won two in a row after a five-point win over Central Methodist University on Wednesday in Breckon Sports Center, 56-51.
The Pirates jump to 6-5 on the season with a 4-4 Heart of America Athletic Conference record and our halfway to last year's conference record. The Eagles are now 5-7 on the season and only sit at 2-6 in conference play.
Park is now 2-2 with Central Methodist in their last four meetings.
It was a bit of a slow start for both teams in the opening quarter with only three-of-16 from the field for Park and a not much better four-of-15 from the Eagles. Both teams went shot for score for score with the other all the way to a 6-6 tie on a
Marina Perdiguero layup with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter. Perdiguero would make a free-throw 25 seconds later, but the Eagles would finish the last 1:15 with a 4-1 run for the 10-7 lead at the quarter's end.
The Pirates would turn it around in the second quarter of play with a 46.2-percent number from the field and two-of-five from beyond the arc, while the Eagles were only at 26.7-percent and 0-for-five of the same. Only four points were scored, one basket by both teams, for the first 4:23 of the second quarter, but
Makayla Artis ended the drought with a layup to tie the game 11-11. The Pirates turned on the defense with a steal by
Nadiyah Cooper that led to a
Paige Scott three-pointer to turn the momentum Park's way. Perry, who got the assist on the previous three, got in on the scoring herself with a layup to help Park to a 7-0 run with 3:50 remaining, 16-11. A three-ball from Perry and an Artis layup and free-throw gave Park it's largest lead of the quarter at seven points with 51 seconds to go, 22-15. The Eagles salvaged some points at the end of the quarter with a 4-0 run to stay within striking distance, 22-19.
Two lead changes would occur to begin the third quarter, beginning with another 4-0 run to put the Eagles up one point. The Pirates wasted no time responded though, as a 9-0 run completely flipped the game once again, highlighted by a
Kate Sokolova trey. The run lasted 3:57 and the Eagles scored again at the 2:39 mark to make it 32-25. The Eagles had a 6-1 run to bring it back within reach at 33-29, but Sokolova jump shot helped keep some distance with a 1:20 to go. Perry would answer the Eagles with a pair of free-throws the next possession, but a Central Methodist three-pointer made it a game to end the quarter, 37-34.
The Pirates put the ball in Perry's hand in the fourth quarter as her 22-point night was primarily earned in the final period with 12 points, including a perfect two-of-two in fourth quarter threes. One of those threes began the fourth quarter to spread the gap to six points. Scott tacked on a layup, followed by another trey from Perry to go up 45-34 with 6:00 to play. There would be one final push from the Eagles with a 9-1 run, which was met by three made free-throws from Perry to make it 49-43 with 2:22 to go. A 4-0 run brought the game within two points at 49-47, prompting a Park timeout with 43 seconds to go. Sokolova made a baseline move to put Park at ease. The Eagles were able to score their next possession, but three more free-throws by Perry and the biggest steal of the game by Scott with seven seconds left sealed the game 56-51.
For the game, Park shot 32.1-percet from the field with a 27.8-percent three-point percentage, while the Eagles were at 33.9-percent and 9.1-percent, respectively. Park had the advantage in free-throws with a 17-of-26 night compared to nine-of-14 for the Eagles.
Both sides were at an identical 18 turnovers and 14 points off turnovers for the game. Second chance points were also dead-even at eight apiece.
Perry led with 22 points and six assists, going three-of-five from deep and 11-of-14 in free-throws.
Scott was in double figures with 11 points and added five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block to round off her night.
Artis was the rebound-winner down-low with 15 boards, six points, four steals, and a block.
Sokolova impressed with nine points and tacked on four rebounds.
The Pirates will host Culver-Stockton on Saturday in Breckon Sports Center at 12pm in their next Heart contest.
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