Park University's women's basketball program was at home on Claude English Court with the Mustangs of Mount Mercy University in town on Saturday afternoon. Mount Mercy found a way to win as Park looked to have momentum towards the end of the game, 59-57.

Park is now 10-12 on the season and 7-11 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while Mount Mercy has had a strong year at 15-7 and 13-6 of the same.

Mount Mercy has gotten the best of the Pirates both times in 2023-24 and Park is without a win against the Mustangs since joining the Heart in 2020-21.  

The game began with a 5-0 run by Mount Mercy. Emma Perry and Iva Drobnjak were right there to pick up the first points for Park to make it 7-4 at the 6:14 mark. The Pirates never trailed by more than five, keeping up with their opponent. A 5-1 run in the closing minutes of the first quarter by Angel Wiggins and a made three-pointer by Taylor Shelby with nine seconds to go brought the game within one-point, 12-11. Credit Mount Mercy with a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to go back up four to end the quarter, 15-11.

Seven points would be the largest lead for the Mustangs in the second quarter, coming within a minute of play on a made three-pointer, 18-11. Perry and Marina Perdiguero sprung into action with a bucket by Perry and a pair of made free-throws by Perdiguero at 7:08 to bring it back within a possession, 18-15. A couple possessions later, Mount Mercy turned it over and had a foul at the other end to put Wiggins at the line to make it 18-17 with under five minutes to go. A 5-0 run looked to turn the tide back into Mount Mercy's favor, but Drobnjak hit a deep ball from the top of the key to come back to a three-point divide, 23-20. A bucket for the Mustangs closed out the half, as both teams kept it close to end the half, 25-20.

The Pirates got on board in the third quarter on a bucket in transition by Shelby off an assist from Drobjnak, who made a key defensive rebound down at the other end. It became a 3-0 run by Park after Perry's made front-end of two shots at the line. This game remained close throughout the third quarter as it never extended beyond a six-point lead by the Mustangs. Finally the Pirates broke through with a 4-0 run on account of Wiggins' driving layup and a transition lay-in by Perry to tie the game 32-32. There would be three two more ties in the span of 35 seconds, Wiggins hit from beyond the arc to tie at 35 and came back around for a layup to tie at 37. Through the third quarter, Wiggins had 13 points and seven rebounds to help lead the charge against the Mustangs. A free throw would be tacked on for Mount Mercy to end the quarter, 38-37.

After 32 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter, back-to-back offensive rebounds by Nevaeh Spillman and Makayla Artis were big to opening the window for Artis' put back to give the Pirates their first lead of the game, 39-38. Wiggins made two more free-throws to extend the lead to three, 41-38. Both teams showed no signs of giving in and Mount Mercy was lifted with a made three to tie it back up. The lead changed hands three more times in the next minute, before another three-pointer gave the Mustangs a 47-43 lead. Artis had three offensive rebounds in the next series though to set up an and-one to make it 47-45 with 6:40 remaining. After Mount Mercy answered, Perry showed some range with a three-pointer that bounced around the rim before landing to make it 49-48 with 5:51 to go. Makayla Artis gave the Pirates a two-point lead with two made free-throws with 3:22 left, 52-50. A huge three-pointer came in by Shelby to put her squad up four with 2:46 in the game, 55-51. Wiggins then helped the Pirates to their largest lead of five points with 1:59 left to play with a  lay-up in the lane, 57-52. A 6-0 run that included a three-pointer from the corner with 1:05 to go picked the Mustangs back up for the one-point lead, 58-57.

Mount Mercy shot 41-percent from the field to the Pirates' 31-percent. Three point-percentage was near its highest for Park at 35-percent, making six-of-17, while Mount Mercy was five-of-11 for 45-percent.

The Pirates were 11-of-15 from the line and edged the 16-of-28 from the strike by Mount Mercy.

Mount Mercy and the Pirates were even on turnovers, 11 for both teams. Points off turnovers were close as well, but Mount Mercy had two more points off turnovers than Park, 15 to 13.  

The Pirates gained an advantage in second chance points though with 11 compared to seven for the Mustangs.

The Pirates got it done on the offensive glass with 21 offensive rebounds compared to eight offensive boards for the Mustangs.

Wiggins showed out with 19 points, tying her career-high that she obtained against Graceland previously on December 16, 2023. She was also two rebounds away from a double-double and contributed three assists as well.

Perry found herself in double-figures with 12 points on the game and five rebounds. Shelby and Drobnjak were matching one another on points with eight and from beyond the arc with two-of-four performances.

Artis was in her element with six points and nine rebounds, while Spillman was working hard down low with 11 rebounds.

The Pirates will battle with No. 17 Grand View University next in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, February 7 at 5:30pm. WATCH
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