Women's Basketball Falls to Park in Hard-Fought Conference Matchup

PARKVILLE, Mo. — The Graceland University Yellowjackets women's basketball team came up short in conference play Saturday afternoon, falling to Park University 85-68 at Breckon Sports Center. Despite a competitive start, Graceland struggled to sustain offensive momentum, marking its second consecutive game with shooting struggles.

With the loss, Graceland moves to 8-15 overall and 6-13 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play, while Park improves to 14-10 on the season and 11-9 in conference action.

Game Recap

Graceland opened the game with strong offensive execution, shooting 53.8% from the field in the first quarter and taking a 17-16 lead after ten minutes. The Yellowjackets capitalized on contributions from their bench early, with Camila Barreno and Avery Walker-Henry each knocking down key three-pointers.

However, Park responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Graceland 31-22. The Pirates shot 64.3% from the field during the period and connected on four of five three-point attempts. Emma Perry and Paige Scott combined for 15 points in the quarter, propelling Park to a 47-39 lead at halftime.

Despite Graceland's efforts to close the gap in the third quarter, Park's offensive efficiency remained steady. The Yellowjackets shot 33.3% from the field in the period, while Park continued to find success from beyond the arc, maintaining a 66-58 advantage entering the final ten minutes.

The fourth quarter saw Park take full control, outscoring Graceland 19-10. The Yellowjackets struggled from deep, failing to convert a three-pointer in the final period, while the Pirates closed the game with timely baskets and strong free-throw shooting.

Key Performers

• Kymani Freeman led Graceland with 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals but shot just 4-of-15 from the field.
• Camila Barreno provided a spark off the bench, finishing with a team-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including two three-pointers.
• Avery Walker-Henry was efficient, contributing 13 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting performance.
• Maxine Ampofo added 11 points and converted 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
• For Park, Nadiyah Cooper led all scorers with 22 points while adding four assists and three steals.
• Emma Perry tallied 17 points and knocked down all three of her three-point attempts.
• Nevaeh Spillman dominated the boards with 11 rebounds to go along with 19 points.

Team Stats & Analysis

Graceland shot 41.8% (23-of-55) from the field and 33.3% (7-of-21) from three-point range, while Park posted a higher field goal percentage at 45.5% (30-of-66) and an efficient 50.0% (9-of-18) from beyond the arc.

Rebounding was a key factor, with Park holding a 40-28 advantage on the glass. The Pirates also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 15 points off offensive rebounds compared to Graceland's two.

Despite forcing 16 Park turnovers and scoring 26 points off those miscues, the Yellowjackets struggled to convert down the stretch. Park made timely shots, particularly in the fourth quarter, sealing the game with a 19-10 scoring edge.

Coach's Comments

Following the loss, Graceland head coach Willie Scott acknowledged the team's effort but emphasized the need for more consistent execution.

"We lost to a very good fourth-place team in our conference," Scott said. "It's the second game in a row we didn't shoot it well enough. They made big shots when it counted. We play well enough to stay close to the good teams, but not good enough to finish the game right now, unfortunately."

Next Game

Graceland returns home for its next matchup against Grand View University on Wednesday, February 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm inside the Morden Center on Graceland's beautfiul Lamoni campus.

For more information on Graceland women's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.