The Park University women's basketball program was on the road in St. Louis, Mo. on Friday, facing the Spartans of Missouri Baptist University. The Pirates had breakout 1st and 3rd quarters, but Missouri Baptist did enough to win at home, 74-66. 

Park is on a seven-game losing streak and drops to 7-12 on the year with a 2-10 Heart record. The Spartans in their first Heart season are a middle of the road team with a 5-7 Heart record and 6-12 overall.

Nadiyah Cooper and Madison Hill were leading Park in the first quarter with seven and six points, respectively. Cooper started a 7-0 run for Park with a three to spur on the run to gain a 11-9 lead. Hill's first quarter points all came in the last minute with back-to-back three-pointers to give Park a 23-17 lead. 

An and-one by Sheridan Curley got the Pirates moving in the second quarter with a 25-17 lead. Things slowed down though for Park after the 6:50 mark and were held scoreless until 2:12, at which point the Spartans held a three-point lead. Like the Pirates ended the first quarter, so did the Spartans in the second quarter with back-to-back threes to pad their lead at the half, 40-31.

It was another good quarter for the Pirates in the third, especially as it got closer to the fourth quarter. Park was hanging with Missouri Baptist, but the Spartans were still up seven under five minutes left. Marina Perdiguero's jump shot was the first step to chipping away at the Spartan's lead. Then at the 2:52 mark through the rest of the quarter, Hill hit two more threes and Cooper made a two-point jumper for an 8-1 run to makei t 54-53 at the end of the third quarter

Charleece Davis and Hill got Park off to a good start with a 5-0 run in the fourth quarter to give Park the lead, 58-54. Seven made three pointers by Madison Hill on the day was a major offensive boost for Park and at 8:29 Hill hit another three to keep the Pirates ahead, 61-57. A 6-0 run turned the lead back to the Spartans, but then a deep ball from Jordan Bianco took back the lead 64-63 with 5:50 left. After this point though, Missouri Baptist would hold Park without a field goal, as Park's last points came at the 3:00 mark with free-throws by Davis, which were also the last points for the Pirates. Missouri Baptist closed out the game 74-66.

Park's field goal percentage was at 36-percent for the game, compared to 45-percent by the Spartans. Each side hit on nine three-pointers, which is a season high for Park.

There were less opportunties at the line for Park with a nine-of-13 performance, while the Spartans had more attempts at a lower percentage, 11-of-19.

The Spartans had eight more turnovers, resulting in 18 points for the Pirates, while Park's 10 turnovers only amounted to four points for the Spartans.

All in all this close contest was underscored by five ties and six lead changes.

Hill was the ultimate sixth player off the bench with her new season-high of 23 points, finishing seven-of-12 from deep.

Davis was playing at a high-level too with 14 points and six assists. 

Cooper was less active after the first quarter, but finished her day with 11 points. 

Nevaeh Spillman was the rebound leader for the Pirates with 10 for the game, while Perdiguero was next in line with seven.

Park will take on Peru State tomorrow in Breckon Sports Center at 5:30pm. WATCH
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