The Park University women's basketball team was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday to face Mount Mercy University. The Pirates had a big push in the third quarter, but were unable to complete the comeback against the Mustangs, 62-54.

The Pirates move to 7-8 and 2-6 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, while Mount Mercy bows up to 8-8 and 4-5 of the same.

Park asserted themselves in the first quarter with a 7-0 run over 2 minutes and 23 seconds, 7-4 at 4:46. The Mustangs hit a three-pointer to even it at 7 and both teams were extremely close through the remaining minutes. If it were not for two quick buckets inside a minute for Mount Mercy, the Pirates may have gone into the half with the lead, but instead trailed 16-13 at the break. 

The close first quarter was juxtaposed by a sluggish second quarter for the Pirates with only six points to show for their efforts. Meanwhile the Mustangs sprang ahead with a 17-point second quarter for a 33-19 halftime lead. 21 points by Park made a big difference in the second half for Park, which began with a 5-0 run through the first 3:12 of the third quarter. Down the stretch, Marina Perdiguero went to work with back-to-back buckets to come within seven points, and then Nadiyah Cooper brought the game within five-points with a pair of free-throws at the 2:32 mark, 39-34. It was a team effort with a 6-2 run to close out the last two and half minutes, as Perdiguero, Sheridan Curley, and Madison Hill brought Park within one to end the third quarter, 41-40. 

Unfortunately, the Mustangs found their rhythm in the fourth quarter at 61.5-percent from the field, including three-of-five from deep. The Pirates were not shooting it as effectively from the field at 28-percent with zero threes. Park was six-of-seven from the free-throw line in the final quarter, but lacked the knockout blow against Mount Mercy, 62-54.

For the game, Park was shooting 23-percent from the field at two-of-13 from deep, while Mount Mercy was at 38-percent and hit nine three-pointers.

At the line, Park made their living at 22-of-33, while Mount Mercy was seven-of-15.

The Pirates took care of the ball with only nine turnovers compared to 21 by the Mustangs. This made up for only five points of separation in points of turnovers though, 19 for Park and 14 for the Mustangs.

Bench points heavily favored Mount Mercy with 25 compared to only six for Park.

Perdiguero led Park with a 16-point performance, the senior's new career-high. She was one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-leading nine rebounds. 

Nevaeh Spillman was one point and one rebound less than Perdiguero, contributing a solid 15 points and eight rebounds. Both Spillman and Perdiguero made eight or more free-throws in the game.

Cooper was the other Pirate in double-digit scoring with 11 points and co-led with Spillman with three steals in the game.

Curley hit one of Park's two three-pointers and contributed a respectable six points.

The Pirates are back in Breckon Sports Center for Faculty Appreciation Night at 5:30pm against Grand View University. WATCH
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