by Park took on Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa and the Pirates suffer the defeat, 57-43.
The Pirates move to 1-10 overall with a 0-10 Heart record, while the Yellowjackets advance to 3-9 and 2-7 in conference play.
The Yellowjackets were able to maintain the four point lead in the first quarter, 16-12, but the Pirates turned the tide in the second quarter courtesy of a 7-0 scoring run and led 24-23 at halftime.
Despite Graceland holding Park to 28-percent from the field in the first half, the Pirates gained the upper hand from behind the arc going five-of-nineteen opposed to the two-of-eight of the same for Graceland. Jaelyn Two Hearts (Spirit Lake Nation) and Victoria Cuevas for Park both supplied the offensive firepower as they each made two three-point shots, accounting for half of Park’s points in the first half.
The momentum of the game would shift again though, this time in the Yellowjackets’ favor, as they responded with an 11-0 run in the first three minutes of the second half.
As time winded down, Graceland continued to push ahead of the Pirates to secure the 14 point win, 57-43.
Park was able to spread the ball around offensively as seven different Pirates appear in the scoring column, highlighted by the 14 points in bench scoring.
As a team, the Pirates made an effort to take away the Yellowjackets’ passing lanes as Park earned 16 steals, contributing to 31 Graceland turnovers compared to eight Graceland steals and 20 Park turnovers.
The Yellowjackets shot an astounding 51-percent from the field in the game with 40 points coming in the paint contrasted with Park’s 23-percent and 16 points in the paint, respectively.
Graceland’s forward Madilyn Sager earns the double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds, leading both teams in points and rebounds. Her teammate Brooke Vermeer was an efficient five-of-six from the field and finished with 13 points as well.
Krystal Forrester led the Pirates in rebounds, coming down with nine boards on the day.
Fellow Pirate, Two Hearts, finished with a team leading 12 points, a game leading five assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
To recap, Park earned 37 rebounds, amassed 20 turnovers, captured 16 steals, distributed 11 assists, rejected one shot, made 17-of-73 from the field, and shot 7-of-37 from beyond the arc.
