The National Park College Nighthawk women’s basketball team snapped a seven-game losing streak Thursday, defeating Arkansas Baptist College on the road, 65-53.
Looking to avenge a five-point loss from January, the Nighthawks (4-12) caught fire quickly behind big three-pointers from its sophomore class, surging to a 16-6 lead after a fast first-quarter. In the second quarter, however, Arkansas Baptist College found its spark, outscoring the Nighthawks, 19-11, to cut the lead to two points entering halftime.
In the second half, the Nighthawks found their mojo from beyond the arc, draining five of its seven field goals from three-point range. A 10-point quarter from sophomore Laney Wallace (Malvern) paced National Park College to a 46-38 lead entering the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, freshman Logan Keener (Lake Hamilton) added 8 points while turning up the defense, which prevented any points in the paint en route to National Park College’s first win since Jan. 10.
Sophomore Bailey Womack (Fountain Lake) led the Nighthawks in scoring with 19 points, while Wallace and Keener added 15 and 12 points, respectively, in the win.
In men’s action, National Park College suffered its first non-conference defeat of the season, falling to Arkansas Baptist College, 88-80.
In a defensive first half, the Nighthawks found success behind hot shooting from freshman Patrick Greene (Little Rock Mills), who scored 10 of the team’s first 15 points and 14 total points in the first half. The Buffaloes kept the rest of the Nighthawk shooters at bay, however, utilizing key three-pointers to grab a 35-29 halftime lead.
Led by a 17-point second half from Greene as well as eight-point efforts from sophomores Seth Duke (Gravette) and Braylon Steen (Bryant), National Park College found its groove and regained the lead. Over the final six minutes of the game, however, Nighthawk foul trouble allowed Arkansas Baptist College the free throws it needed to put the game away and send National Park College to its second-consecutive loss.
Greene led the Nighthawks in scoring with 31 points. Steen and Duke added 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss.
National Park College returns to action Saturday at St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Mo. The Nighthawk women tip off at 1 p.m. with the Nighthawk men playing at 3 p.m. XZero Sports will stream the games live at www.xzerosports.com.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit www.np.edu/basketball. Visit NJCAA Division II team stats for up-to-date NJCAA statistics on the Nighthawks. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
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