(RV) Women's Basketball returns home at 2 p.m. Saturday looking to pick up their first win in Heart of America Athletic Conference play inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium as they host Park University.
The Matchup: Today's meeting marks just the third meeting between Benedictine and Park in Heart play. The two teams have matched up 11 times since the 2009-10 season as they used to commonly play in an early-season Classic. The Ravens have a five-game winning streak heading into today's game and are 8-3 in their last 11 meetings.
Tip-Off: (RV) Benedictine is off to a 2-1 start in Heart play this season, but both wins have come on the road. The Ravens posted an overall record of 11-3 at home during the 2020-21 season while posting an 8-2 mark in Heart play inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. ... The Pirates currently lead the Heart in defensive scoring. In 8 games, Park has limited their opponents to just 50.8. The Pirates are also ranked in the top five in the Heart in field goal defense (No. 5/37.9) and 3-point field goal defense (No. 4/27.1). ... Skylar Washington is three points shy of scoring her 1,000th career point at Benedictine. When she reached that total, she will become the 19th player in program history. Natalie Smaron is on pace to be the next to join the 1,000 point scoring club. She currently sits at 919 career points heading into play against the Pirates. ... Benedictine ranks second in the Heart as a team in rebounds per game. Through 11 games, the Ravens are averaging 44.8 rebounds per game at an average margin of 12.7 – which leads the Heart and is seventh overall in the NAIA. ... In three Heart games, Benedictine is averaging 28.7 points per game in the paint. Through 11 games, the Ravens have scored a total of 382 points in the paint for an average of 34.7. In six home games, the Ravens are averaging 21.2 points in the paint. ... Park head coach Norman Kenneth Cooper Jr., tied the Pirates all-time wins number at 128 earlier this year in a 59-45 win over Cottey College on Nov. 27.
Up Next: Benedictine wraps up finals on Monday and Tuesday before heading down to Puerto Rico to close out the first semester. Park will host MNU on Dec. 15 in their final Heart game of 2021.
#UnleashGreatness
