The Park University women's basketball team was at home in Breckon Sports Center on Wednesday evening, starting off Heart of America Athletic Conference action against the Wildcats of Baker University. Baker had five points of separation in the second and fourth quarters, making the difference in the result, 74-65.

Park, in just their second loss, move to 4-2 on the year, but start 0-1 in conference play. The Wildcats get to .500 in the Heart at 1-1 and now are 2-5 on the season.

The Pirates led by as much as five points in the first quarter after an 8-3 run, including six points from point guard Charleece Davis. A couple free-throws and a three-pointer for Baker got them back to a tie game at 12-12. Again Baker hit a three with tenths of a second on the clock for an 18-18 first quarter score. 

This time Baker got out to a seven-point lead with 6:40 to play in the half. A three-pointer by Madison Hill and a jumper by Alexus Woodard helped get the game within two points, 29-27. The Wildcats did enough in the remaining minutes though for a five-point lead at the break, 35-30.

Park tied the game twice in the third quarter on a jumper by Elizabeth Boehm to make it 37-37 and then again by Davis at 41-all. Down the stretch though, Baker stayed at least a possession ahead of Park before coming to a 50-46 score, going into the final quarter.

A two-point jumper and a trey by Nadiyah Cooper got Park within one-point at 52-51, and Jordan Bianco and Boehm joined the three party to overtake Baker 57-56. A 9-0 run for Baker turned the momentum as a three-pointer, and steal and score for the Wildcats was a huge impact late in the game. The over three minute scoring drought for Park was ended at 3:16 with a jumper from Davis. The score would remain favorable though for Baker in the closing minutes to defeat Park, 74-65.

Park shot 40-percent from the field to Baker's 49-percent. Both teams had five made three-pointers on the day. The Pirates did not go to the line much at all with only four-of-six from free-throw compared to 17-of-20 for the Wildcats.

Baker had five more turnovers with 19 and Park was able to get five more points off those turnovers with 20 points in transition.

Davis, Cooper, and Boehm was Park's triple threat, as the three Pirates in double-figure scoring. Davis and Cooper were at 16 points, and Boehm scored 13. 

Cooper, Boehm, and Nevaeh Spillman were the leaders in rebounding in a balanced effort. Cooper led Park with six, while Boehm and Spillman had five.

Boehm found her teammates with four assists followed by Cooper's three. Cooper was also tough defensively with four steals and two blocks.

Park will be back in Breckon Sports Center on Saturday at 12pm against Central Methodist. WATCH
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