The Park University women's basketball program traveled well to Oskaloosa, Iowa on Saturday, defeating William Penn University 78-61. 

Park climbed to 8-13 on the year with a 3-11 Heart of America Athletic Conference record, while the Statesmen are now at 7-16 and 4-11, respectively.

Park shot out of a cannon with a 13-1 run, highlighted by six points from Nevaeh Spillman. Sheridan Curley was perfect from three with four makes and hit a big one early at the 2:56 mark for the 19-10 lead. A 5-2 run for the Statesmen would end the quarter, 21-17.

The second quarter was where the most damage was done by Park, outscoring William Penn 17-8. All this was despite eight second quarter turnovers by Park compared to only three by William Penn. At three-of-14 for the Statesmen and zero-of-six from deep, the Pirates defense made up for turnovers and shot at a high rate of seven-of-11 and two-of-two offensively. Park would go into halftime 38-25.

The lead would continue to build as the game went on and Park held their largest lead midway through the fourth quarter of 26 points. Marina Perdiguero was the main scorer in the third quarter with eight points and she came away with her new career-high of 18 points.

Even with William Penn scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter, the Pirates did not relinquish the lead with 19 points of their own for a 78-61 win.

Perdiguero along with her 18 points had seven rebounds. Curley and Charleece Davis were next in line with a matching 14 points on the day. Davis found her teammates around the court and earned seven assists on the day. She also led Park with five steals.

Spillman was in double-figures as well with 13 points and had six rebounds.

Cooper was tied as the rebound leader with seven and also hit the 10-point mark with six assists.

As a whole, Park was 29-of-50 compared to 18-of-58 for William Penn. Park was extremely efficient at four-of-six from deep compared to only six-of-28 for the Statesmen.

Both teams got to the line with 16-of-22 for Park and 19-of-24 for William Penn.

Park had seven more turnovers with 23, but still had more points off turnovers with 20 to the Statesmen's 16 points and 16 turnovers.

The Pirates will travel to No. 11 MidAmerica Nazarene University tonight at 5:30pm. WATCH
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