The Park University women's basketball program was in Kansas City, Mo. in a New Year's Eve day game against Avila University, securing the non-conference win over the Eagles 71-69.

The Pirates are now 9-5 on the regular season and still hold at an unaffected 6-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Avila of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference are only 2-5 in conference play, and move to 2-11 on the regular season with all of their wins coming at home. The Pirates stay on a roll and extend to a 5-game winning streak.

Paige Scott and Emma Perry opened the game up with a 4-0 lead for Park, the largest lead of the game for the Pirates. After a three-pointer and a layup by Avila, the Eagles held on to the lead from 7:21 in the first quarter to the closing moments of the fourth quarter, as only two lead changes took place in the game.

The Pirates were able to tie the game at 22-22 at 9:34 in the second quarter. The Eagles sank three shots beyond the arc in the second quarter and closed out on a five-point lead to end the half, 37-32.

Makayla Artis and Perry combined for a 5-0 run to make it 42-37 at 8:28 in the third quarter, but Avila answered with another three-pointer to get back to an eight-point lead, 45-37. Down the stretch in the third quarter, Destiny Hines and Kate Sokolova kept things in reach for Park with 3:12 remaining down six points, 52-46. A 7-1 scoring run by Avila gave them their largest lead of the afternoon with a 12-point difference, 59-47. The momentum would soon shift in the fourth quarter, but before that Hines came through with a pair of free-throws to end the third quarter, 59-49.

Hines came back in the fourth quarter with another couple of free-throws to come within eight points. Scott answered the call with a three-pointer at the nine minute mark to make it 59-54. All of a sudden the Pirates were working with something as Nevaeh Spillman continued the run with two made free-throws and then a huge steal and and-one by Jordan Bianco tied this game up at 59-59 with 8:19 to go. Bianco had eight fourth quarter points and tied the game once again on a three-pointer at 6:03, 64-64. Avila never was able to shake the Pirates completely, as Perry tied the game at 4:59 again with a trey, 67-67. A made free-throw by Makayla Artis at 3:33 gave Park its first lead since the opening possessions of the fourth quarter and Park would not give this lead up, 68-67. Perry hit three free-throws down the stretch to keep Park out front, as Avila only managed one made field-goal in the last five minutes to end the game, 71-69.

Park was 45.1-percent from the field today, while Avila was at 41.8-percent. Three point shooting gave Avila a big boost, but Park caught up to them at seven-of-17 compared to the Eagles' nine-of-29.
Park got to the line, which paid dividends in the end at 18-of-22 compared to only four-of-six for Avila.

Avila had six more points off of turnovers as Park had 22 turnovers for the game, compared to 16 turnovers for the home team.

Avila had four more second chance points, eight more points in the paint, and eight more fastbreak points.

Park displayed more depth with 27 bench points to only 15 for Avila.

Perry had an excellent showing with 23 points on a seven-of-13 day from the field and shot three-of-six from three-point land. This marks her fourth 20-point game this season.

Bianco and Hines off the bench were the only other Pirates to make it into double-figures, 11 for Bianco and 10 points for Hines. Bianco was the only other Pirate besides Perry to have multiple three-point makes a two-of-three in the game.

Artis had 10 rebounds, while Perry was next in line with seven boards, including four off of the offensive rim. Scott only had three rebounds, but all three were off of the offensive glass.

Four Pirates had multiple assists on the day, but Artis had the most with four.

Park is back in Breckon Sports Center next year on Thursday, January 2 at 12pm against Clarke University. WATCH
Box Score