Posted: Jan 11, 2025
Headington Joins 1,000 Point Club Despite Falling to the Pirates
Mount Mercy
(10-6, 8-5)
52
Park
(10-7, 7-6)
54
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mount Mercy (10-6, 8-5) | 14 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 52 |
|
Park (10-7, 7-6) | 11 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 54 |
PARKVILLE, Mo. — Mount Mercy women's basketball dropped a tightly contested Heart of America Athletic Conference game to Park University, 54-52, on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs fell to 10-6 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
Senior Annika Headington reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points with a layup midway through the fourth quarter. Headington finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists in a 6-for-10 shooting effort.
Mount Mercy led for much of the game, holding a seven-point advantage in the first quarter, but turnovers proved costly. The Mustangs committed 19 turnovers, which Park converted into 14 points. Despite their struggles, Mount Mercy stayed competitive behind Headington's consistent scoring and a balanced defensive effort.
The game came down to the wire. With under a minute to play, Madison Skelton's three-point play tied the score at 49-49. However, Park's Marina Perdiguero answered with a three-pointer, giving the Pirates a 52-49 lead. Isabel Wallschlaeger's free throw and a subsequent Mount Mercy defensive stop provided hope, but a missed final attempt sealed the narrow defeat.
Skelton contributed 13 points and six rebounds, while Malie Marfil chipped in eight points and seven boards. The Mustangs shot 37.0% from the field but struggled beyond the arc, connecting on just 5-of-21 attempts.
Park improved to 10-7 overall and 7-6 in league play. The Pirates capitalized on second-chance opportunities, out-rebounding Mount Mercy 50-40 and scoring 10 second-chance points.
Mount Mercy will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host William Penn at the Hennessey Recreation Center. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.