The Park University women's basketball program was home on Saturday in Breckon Sports Center against Central Methodist University. Despite a fast start by the Pirates, the Eagles managed to outlast Park in overtime, 71-66.

The Pirates are now 4-3 on the year with an 0-2 Heart of America Athletic Conference record, while the Eagles are 5-3 and 2-1 of the same. The Pirates were in a habit of scoring north of 70 points to open the season, but in their three game losing streak, Park's been held to 66 or fewer points while opponents have scored in the 70s.

Two seniors, Marina Perdiguero and Nadiyah Cooper got Park on the board with two layups for a 4-0 lead. Central Methodist would take back the lead with a three to cap off a 7-0 run, but then Cooper shot her shot from behind the arc for a 9-7 Park lead. Nevaeh Spillman worked hard down low and off of an offensive rebound put a layup back up to extend Park's lead to 17-11 with 1:51 in the first quarter. Elizabeth Boehm and Spillman played off of one another for a 4-0 run as the quarter ended 21-15.

A 7-2 run for the Eagles got them within a point, but again Cooper with her second three of the game got Park back to a two-possession lead with her 12th point of the day, 26-22. In the first half the Pirates had the answers for the Eagles' attacks and the Eagles got within a possession again at the 4:06 mark, but Perdiguero was ready to go for a lay-in to make it 30-26. Jordan Bianco gave Park another big shot with a three-ball that made it 33-26 with 3:12 to go. Alexus Woodard would tack on another jumper to get Park to its 35-30 halftime number. 

A hot start for Central Methodist in the third quarter amounted to a 9-0 run to overtake Park 39-35. It would not be until 5:58 that Perdiguero would make a free-throw for Park's first point of the second half. The scoring stalled a bit for both sides and Spillman and Boehm hit free-throws to tie the Eagles two times before arriving at a 45-43 third quarter score.

A 5-1 run by the Eagles gave them a six-point lead and Park picked up a much needed offensive rebound and put back by Woodard at the 7:05 mark, 50-46. The Pirates were able to keep it close for the remainder of the quarter and finally back-to-back layups by Boehm and Bianco gave the Pirates a lead, 54-53. The score would change hands two more times on consecutive possessions, as Boehm drove the lane for a score with 1:22 to play, 56-55. Another lead change occurred and then with 21 seconds left the Pirates called timeout to set up a last possession play. Cooper got her number called and drew contact with 13 seconds left. She made the first free-throw to tie, but missed the back-end. A last second three-point attempt would not fall for the Eagles, sending both teams to overtime, 57-57. 

With only five minutes to work with, the opening plays were more urgent. The Eagles got the first basket of overtime and then a turning point was a steal and score combo by Central Methodist ot go up four points. Boehm was able to tip a ball back in off of an offensive rebound to make it 61-59, but a free-throw and three-point make on the other end made things tough once again for Park, 65-59. It was a stale mate on scoring runs for both sides, but a last second three-pointer by Bianco kept the door cracked for Park at 69-66 with six seconds to play. Two made free-throws by the Eagles secured the win for them though, 71-66.

Cooper led Park in the first half and Boehm came on strong towards the end, and both co-led the Pirates with 16 points. Both Cooper and Bianco made two three-pointers for Park on a four-of-20 day as a team, while the Eagles were at four-of-30. Both teams were under 40-percent from the field and neither side was above 70-percent in free-throws. The Eagles had more freebies though going 15-of-22 from the free-throw line, while Park was only 12-of-24. All in all, nine lead changes took place in a tight contest through and through.

It was startling that both teams had 30 or more turnovers in the game and both sides capitalized with over 20 points off of turnovers.

Boehm nearly reached a double-double in assists with eight in the game. Cooper, similarly, was one rebound shy of a double-double. Spillman would have a balanced day, just under double-figures with eight points and nine boards, including five on the offensive side. 

Perdiguero wa second in scoring with 10 points and Bianco put together a good game with eight points. Boehm led the Pirates with six steals defensively as well. Woodard contributed six points and grabbed four rebounds with three on the offensive glass.

The Pirates are on the road today in Peru, Neb. at 5:30pm against Peru State College. WATCH
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