The Park University women's basketball program hit the road on Saturday for a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup with Culver-Stockton College, defeating the Wildcats, 64-62.

Park has won four out of their last five games for a 14-9 record and 11-8 record in conference play. Culver-Stockton moves to 11-10 and 8-9 of the same.

Paige Scott and Emma Perry would account for a 5-0 lead in the early going to establish a 7-2 lead over the Wildcats. Culver-Stockton answered with their own run, but Scott kept the Wildcats on standby with a three-pointer at 2:31 to make it 10-6. Culver-Stockton managed to tie the game at 14-14, but an and-one by Nevaeh Spillman gave Park a three-point lead to end the quarter, 17-14.

Culver-Stockton never led in the first half as a 7-0 Park run on scores from Spillman, Nadiyah Cooper, and a three by Scott put some distance between these teams with 6:41 to play, 24-16. As time rolled on, Makayla Artis and Scott continued to put the Wildcats on notice, as another three rained down by Scott for a 10-point lead, 32-22. Culver-Stockton got some points back to end the half, but still faced a 36-28 deficit.

Perry's shots from deep started to fall again in the second half, opening up the third quarter with a trey. Cooper sunk two free-throws to get Park to an 11-point lead. After a small response by the Wildcats to get back within single-digits, Perry splashed another shot beyond the arc to restore a 44-34 lead with 6:21 remaining. It would be back and forth in the next several possessions, but the Wildcats began to turn the corner with two three-pointers and went on a 12-6 scoring run from 5:21 to 1:22, 50-46. The Pirates had a nice response by Perry with a layup under a minute and a turnover by Culver-Stockton gave Park one more possession for Spillman to grab an offensive rebound and a put back score to end the quarter, 54-46.
Two threes to open the fourth quarter gave life to the home crows and the lead was now only two for Park, 54-52. It was a defensive quarter with not a lot of runs by either side, but the Pirates were lifted by two big threes by Scott at 6:18 and Perry. Leading up to Perry's three-ball, the Wildcats managed to score four unanswered points to make it a one-point game. Perry's shot at 3:21 was a key moment to get Park back to a two possession lead late, 62-58. Under three minutes to play, Jordan Bianco and Cooper secured two steals in crucial moments that led to only two field-goals for the rest of the game. With 14 seconds to play, Scott hit both her free-throws to seal the game for the Pirates, 64-62.

Park shot 41.4-percent from the field, while the Wildcats were 44.3-percent. Shots from beyond the arc heavily favored the Pirates though at eight-of-17 compared to five-of-19 for the Wildcats.

Park made the most of their free-throw opportunities at eight-of-nine, while Culver-Stockton was only three-of-six.

Park had double the turnovers as the Wildcats with 14 and Culver-Stockton made Park pay with six more points off of turnovers.

Second chance points were about even, 12 for Park and 11 for Culver-Stockton, and bench points also was to the Wildcats' advantage at 13 to eight.

This game was tied twice, but no lead changes took place.

Perry and Scott had an even 16 points each and both made all of Park's threes with four apiece.

Cooper was the next highest in scoring with 12 points, while Spillman and Marina Perdiguero were just outside of double-figures at eight points each.

Artis led the rebounding effort with 14 rebounds.

Impressively, Park had four starters with multiple assists, but Scott led the Pirates with four.

Park and (RV) Benedictine College will play in the Heart Game of the Week tonight at 5:30pm in Atchison, Kan.. WATCH
Box Score