The Park University women's basketball program looked comfortable on Claude English Court on Saturday against Culver-Stockton College, shooting well from three-point range and the free-throw line for a 68-57 win.
Park is rocking a three-game win streak, bumping up to 7-5 on the season and 5-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. With the loss, the Wildcats have an identical overall record as Park and are 4-4 in conference play.
It was a quick start for both sides out of the gate with Pirates scoring on their first possession on a layup by Nevaeh Spillman followed by an immediate answer from three for Culver-Stockton. The Wildcats stayed on the offensive, but Park's Nadiyah Cooper made back-to-back scores for Park to keep it 9-6 with 7:38 on the clock. A 7-3 run by Park capped off by a Destiny Hines layup gave Park a 13-12 lead with 3:54 to go. Both teams matched one another shot for shot for the rest of the quarter, except Jordan Bianco one-upped Culver-Stockton with a made trey to give Park a two-point lead to end the quarter, 18-16.
The second quarter began with a bang on account of Cooper's three-pointer. The Pirates then garnered some momentum with Makayla Artis' layup and an and-one from Marina Perdiguero to give Park an eight-point lead, 26-18. Culver-Stockton would get a three-pointer the next possession, but that would not stop Park from going on a 5-0 run to extend the lead 31-21. Again a timely three-pointer by Bianco to end the second quarter to give Park its largest lead of the half, 34-23.
A 9-2 run to begin the third quarter created the biggest separation of 18-points on the game, brought about by the sharp-shooting Paige Scott with a three-pointer and a layup by Spillman at 5:57 to end the run, 43-25. Culver-Stockton was able to establish themselves with a 4-0 run, but Scott cut it off with another triple, 46-29. A three-pointer by Culver-Stockton at 2:42 helped the Wildcats earn a 5-0 run, but in the last two minutes, a 7-2 run for Park ended the third quarter at 53-36. Bianco was not silent in the third quarter with another three-pointer in that Park run to close the quarter.
Culver-Stockton had opportunities to shave down the lead, but Scott was on fire from downtown with three more fourth quarter three-pointers to restore an 18-point advantage, 62-44. The Pirates had a great day from beyond the arc with nine made threes, of which Scott and Bianco stood out with five and three treys respectively. Park would maintain a double-figure lead all the way to the final score of 68-57.
The Pirates and Wildcats were both at 39-percent from the field for the game, but Park had three extra three-pointers on the game than the Wildcats and shot 45-percent from deep to 33.3-percent.
This ties the season high of nine made three-pointers for the Pirates this year and its their third game of a 45-percent three-point percentage or higher.
It was an impressive day from the charity stripe for both teams, 13-of-14 for Culver-Stockton and 13-of-15 for Park. This is the second highest free-throw percentage for Park on the season.
Turnovers were a bit of an issue for both teams, but three less turnovers were recorded for Park at 15 to Culver-Stockton's 18. The Pirates had nine more points off of those turnovers than the Wildcats with 21 points.
Park showed some depth as well with eight more points from the bench with 19 points on the day.
There were a pair of 15-point games from Cooper and Scott. Cooper was four-of-10 from the field and a perfect six-of-six from the free-throw line.
Like Scott, Bianco exclusively scored from behind the arc with nine points.
Artis had three points, but helped the team with 12 boards and eight assists, nearly recording an unconventional double-double in those categories.
All but one Park player had an offensive rebound and seven Pirates had multiple offensive rebounds, including the entire starting lineup.
Perry and Spillman both contributed eight points and Perry distributed the ball well with seven assists.
The Pirates have a couple days before their next Heart matchup with Graceland University at 12pm on Monday, December 16 .Watch Here
Box Score
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