The Park University women's basketball program had an excellent Senior Day celebration capped off by a win over Graceland University in Breckon Sports Center on Saturday, 85-68.

Before the game got going, the Pirates had four seniors honored for Senior Day, Makayla Artis, Emma Perry, Paige Scott, and Kate Sokolova. Recently, Artis has been recognized as Park's all-time rebounding leader with 888 rebounds entering Saturday's game.

The Pirates jump up to 12-9 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The last time Park reached 12 wins in conference was during the 2014-15 season in the American Midwest Conference at 12-10. On the season, Park is 15-10 and currently the No. 5 seed in the conference standings, while Graceland is 8-17 on the season with a 6-15 conference record.

This is Park's third game this season with nine three-pointers in a game and this is the third consecutive game that the Pirates have made at least eight three-pointers. Three-point shooting was on target early with Nadiyah Cooper a 5-2 lead to begin the game. Another jumper by Cooper and a Paige Scott three-pointer lifted Park to a six-point lead to force a Yellowjacket timeout with 6:09 to play. Graceland stormed back with two threes in a row to match Park at 10-10. This would only be the star of a 10-0 run that would give Graceland a 14-10 lead with 2:02 to go. Six points to end the quarter by Nevaeh Spillman salvaged the quarter for Park, as they trailed 17-16.

Park had to hit some shots as we got deeper in the second quarter, starting with a layup by Cooper to come within two points, 22-20. Sokolova sank two free-throws to tie the game and after a Graceland layup, Sokolova delivered again with a three-pointer to regain the lead, 25-24. Things stayed close as we approached the four minute mark and Perry hit a pair of free-throws to tie the game at 27-27. A couple of timely three-point plays turned things around, as Spillman converted an and-one and Perry nailed a three to take a 33-29 lead with 3:23 on the clock. Scott and Cooper added another three-points to extend the lead to seven. Outside of two minutes, Cooper came in again with an and-one to tack on another point at 39-31. Inside a minute left in the half, both teams were feeling it from behind the arc, but Park's two seniors helped Park maintain an eight-point lead with two threes to end the half.

Artis began the third quarter with a layup to give Park a 10-point lead, but a 7-0 run gave some life to the Yellowjackets bringing it to 49-46. Another four points and a three-ball by Scott restored the 10-point lead with an impeccable 7-0 run of their own at the 5:22 mark, 56-46. Graceland came within four points a couple of times, but were unable to overtake Park. With a 60-56 lead, Cooper kicked into high-gear with a 6-0 run on to end the third quarter, 66-58.

In the fourth quarter, Sokolova brought the lead into double-digits with a three-pointer at 6:40, 71-60. A 6-2 run as the quarter continued for Park would extend the lead to 14 with 3:03 to go, 77-63. Back to back three-point plays by Cooper and Perry would give Park its largest lead of the game of 18 points with 48 seconds to go, 85-67. Graceland would make one free-throw before time ran out, 85-68.

Cooper led Park with 22 points with a nine-of-16 performance. Three other Pirates were in double-figure scoring including Spillman, Perry, and Scott. Spillman also had a nine-of-16 shooting day with 19 points, her career-high. She also had a double-double with 11 rebounds.

Perry and Scott were good from three-point range with three makes each, as Perry had 17 points and Scott had 15.

Sokolova was just under 10 points with eight on senior day.

Artis added to her career rebounding total with 14 boards and now stands at 902 in her four-year Pirate career.

Park's three starting guards each had at least four assists on the day with Scott leading with five assists.

Park will be on the road on Thursday, February 13 against Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. WATCH
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