The Park University women's basketball program was back at home for it's fourth game at Breckon Sports Center in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Wednesday night, the Pirates hosted University of Saint Mary and the Spires came back for a 73-58 win. 

The Pirates just have their first loss of the season at 4-1, while the Spires are also at one loss in 2025-26 at 3-1 now.

It was a little disjointed to say the least for both sides offensively at the start with seven turnovers each team in the opening quarter. Nadiyah Cooper was able to get a three-pointer off to answer Saint Mary to make it 5-3 in the early going. Cooper continued to contribute with an additional four points in the quarter, including a layup for a 10-5 lead. There would be three more ties in the quarter though before Park got a last second layup by Elizabeth Boehm for a 16-14 lead.

Park started to gain ground in the second quarter off of a layup by Marina Perdiguero and a three-pointer by Boehm at 6:50 on the clock, 24-16. A scoop and score by Charleece Davis extended the lead to 10 for Park, but still Saint Mary hung around as the half ended, 31-25. 

As soon as Park got to a lead of 12 off of four made free-throws by Cooper, Saint Mary hit two three pointers to break the momentum, 37-31. Immediately, Bianco got one of those threes back when she was fouled on a three, making all three shots. An 8-2 run got Saint Mary within three points, 42-39 with a lot of game to play with 5:26 left in the third quarter. It remained close and Park kept the three point lead by the end of the quarter, 50-47. Five made threes by the Spires was a big turning point in the quarter.

The Spires tied it at 51 with 8:41 in the fourth quarter and eventually got to their first lead of the second half off of a three-pointer at 6:11, 56-55. This would just be the tip of the iceberg of a 15-0 run over four minutes to swing the game entirely to Saint Mary, 68-56. A 26-point quarter for the Spires and an eight point quarter for Park, would end things at 73-58. 

This is the first time this season that Park was held below 70 points. 

11 three-pointers were made for Saint Mary to Park's two and by the end of the game, the Spires shot 40-percent from the field to Park's 29-percent. 

Both teams left points on the board from the free-throw line, but Park had more attempts at 20-of-30 compared to 10-of-18 for Saint Mary.

Cooper led Park with 15 points, while Nevaeh Spillman was in on a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

Boehm was in double-figures in points with 11 and had a healthy six rebounds. 

Perdiguero was second in rebounds for Park with seven and Davis made an impact with four steals. 

The difference in bench points was staggering with 29 points from the Spires non-starters and only six of the same for Park.

24 turnovers for Saint Mary helped Park to 16 points off turnovers, while the Spires converted 13 points out of 18 Pirate giveaways.

The Pirates will have an exhibition Saturday, November 15 at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. at 2pm before starting Heart of America Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, November 19 against Baker. WATCH
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