The Park University women's basketball program got off on the right foot in 2025-26, the program's 47th year, with a 2-0 start in the Remy Williams Memorial Invitational in Breckon Sports Center Friday and Saturday. The Pirates began with a 74-45 win over Stephens College and then added another quality win against Avila University 78-76.

In both games, the Pirtates shot over 40-percent from the floor and sank 20 or more free throws. 

Park vs Stephens | W, 74-45 | BOX SCORE

It was a 37-point half against the Stars on Friday with a pair of 11-point scorers for Park, Nadiyah Cooper and Elizabeth Boehm. 

A 4-0 run for the Pirates off of a basket from Alexus Woodard and a pair of free-throws by Jordan Bianco gave Park a 10-point lead over the Stars, 17-7. Fastforward in the half and Bianco and Boehm went back-to-back on drained three-pointers to give the Pirates a 33-17 lead with 3:01 to play. A free-throw by Woodard and then another three-point attack by Bianco closed out the half 37-17 over the Stars. 

There was no let up by the Pirates, as the 20-point lead grew to a 30-point lead by the end of the third quarter, 59-29. 22 points in the third quarter was the highest scoring quarter for the Pirates. Despite the Stars scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to Park's 15, the Pirates cruised to a 74-45 win to open the year, shooting 46-percent from the field and 35-percent from three-point range. 

Success from the free-throw line at 81-percent, 22-of-27, from Park was a key to the game, while it was a pitfall for the Stars at only 11-of-24. Both teams had their fair share of turnovers, 26 for Park and 23 for the Stars, but the Pirates turned it into 22 points off turnovers to 13 for Stephens.

Boehm led the Pirates with 15 points, while Cooper brought in 14 points and was seven-of-eight from the free-throw line. Boehm was only three rebounds away from a double-double, and Boehm and Charleece Davis each found their teammates for buckets with four assists each.

Davis, Cooper, Bianco, and Marina Perdiguero gave a steady two steals each, while Perdiguero was second in rebounding with six for the game.

Park vs Avila | W, 78-76 | BOX SCORE

The Eagles were off to a fast start with 29 first quarter points, but relentless defense and consistent scoring won the day for the Pirates, 78-76. Despite the Eagles leading 14 points in the opening minute of the second quarter, the Pirates flipped their fortunes for the comeback win despite not leading by more than three points the entire game.

Five three pointers in the first half helped Avila establish themselves with a 48-39 halftime lead over Park. In the second quarter, a three-pointer by Nadiyah Cooper and a layup by Perdiguero helped get Park back on the right track at the 7:51 mark, 32-23. The Eagles fended off Park in the first half and led by double-digits at various points, but a free-throw by Cooper and a bucket by Charleece Davis got the Pirates within 10 points to end the half, 48-39. 

In the third quarter, it was a great effort by Davis and Elizabeth Boehm with nine and eight points in the third quarter. The tide started to turn as the Pirates grabbed a 7-2 scoring run to end the quarter and brought the game within a possession, 60-57.

Boehm and Davis made another impact with a three-pointer and a two-point jump shot to tie the game at 62-62 with 8:05 remaining. Under five minutes left, the Pirates got their first lead of the second half with a lay-in by Spillman for a 67-66 lead. It remained tight, staying within a possession for the remainder of play. There were then three lead changes in the last minute in a half of play with good defense and clutch free-throw shooting by the Pirates sealed the win off of a steal by Jordan Bianco, 78-76 over Avila.

Boehm with nine made field-goals for the game led Park with 21 points and gave great defensive contributions with five steals as well.

Davis was perfect from the line at four-of-four and scored 18 points for the game. Two more Pirate starters were in double-digit scoring, including 13-point and 11-point performances by Spillman and Cooper. Spillman secured a double-double with 10 rebounds as well.

Bianco helped the team with four assists and four steals on the game, matching the four steals by Spillman and four assists by Cooper.

A big difference down the stretch was Avila's 26 turnovers for the game compared to 14 for Park.

The Pirates will be in Breckon Sports Center again on Thursday at 5:30pm against Hannibal-LaGrange University. WATCH
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