Park University's women's basketball program ended the season on Senior Day against Culver-Stockton College on Saturday in Breckon Sports Center. The Wildcats held out for the win, 76-72.
Park celebrated Julia Jurek, Jasmin Polk, Angel Wiggins, and Taylor Shelby on senior day.

Park missed out on post-season contention with a tough three game losing streak to end the season at 11-17 and 8-16 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. This is Park's best conference record since joining the Heart in 2020-21.

This was a phenomenal game for the through and through with 20 lead changes and 17 ties, and neither team led by more than seven points the entire contest.

A 7-0 run by the Pirates gave them their largest lead of the day of four points at the 3:13 mark in the first quarter. Two layups by Nevaeh Spillman highlighted the run. A 6-0 run by Culver-Stockton got them back in it before the quarter ran out, 15-13 in favor of the Wildcats.

Defense controlled the second quarter as Park earned six steals on 11 turnovers in the second quarter alone by Culver-Stockton. Park wasn't able to gain much ground as tough shots made them settle for 21.4-percent from the field in the second quarter. The halftime score was all knotted up, 25-25
.
Makayala Artis impacted the game in a big way in the third quarter with 10 points and five rebounds, as both teams remained close with a one-point difference thanks to a last second layup by the Wildcats, 47-46. Artis had a double-double to close out 2024 with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Culver-Stockton got some breathing room to start the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead with 7:54 to play, 55-48. The two seniors Shelby and Wiggins paired well to keep Park in it with 11 combined points from 7:36 to 6:01. The run was highlighted by an and-one three-pointer by Shelby to give Park a 59-58 lead. Shelby hit another two key jump shots inside the five minute mark, including another three pointer to help Park go up 64-60 with 3:57 to play. Both teams were in a tug-of-war for the lead and with a minute remaining the Pirates were given the lead by a three-pointer by Emma Perry, only to be given back to the Wildcats after a layup with 46 seconds to go, 72-71. It became a free-throw game from there and Culver-Stockton was able to seal the game, 76-72.
The senior Wiggins led the Pirates with 22 points, finishing the last four games of her Park career with going over 20 points.

Shelby was next in line, fitting that two seniors led Park in scoring, with 16 points and three-of-seven from deep.

Perry and Spillman were up there too with nine and seven points, respectively. Artis led in rebounding and assists with five assists for the game. Shelby and Iva Drobnjak had four assists as well.

The Pirates will be back next year in 2024-25 after a season that's moving Park in the right direction.
Box Score