Women’s Hoops Drops Contest Against Park in Final Game Before Christmas Break

LAMONI, Iowa – In its final game before the Christmas holiday, the Graceland women's basketball team fell 65-62 in a tightly contested battle against Park University at the Morden Center. Despite a second-half rally and notable efforts from multiple contributors, the Yellowjackets came up short as Park converted late opportunities to secure the win.

With the result, Graceland moves to 2-11 overall and 0-9 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play. Park improves to 8-5 overall and 6-4 in conference competition.

Park built early momentum in the first quarter, capitalizing on perimeter shooting and second-chance points to take a 19-13 lead. Graceland responded in the second frame, anchored by Camila Barreno, who shot an efficient 6-for-8 from the field for 13 points on the night. The Yellowjackets trailed 34-26 at halftime after limiting Park to 36.4% shooting in the second period.

The Yellowjackets surged in the third quarter, narrowing the gap as Maxine Ampofo and Kayloni Smolley found their rhythm offensively. Ampofo, who finished with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds, dominated in the paint, while Smolley added timely assists and defensive stops. Graceland outscored Park 17-16 in the third to set up a competitive fourth quarter.

In the final frame, the Yellowjackets clawed back behind strong bench contributions and outside shooting. Sophia Rodriguez drained two clutch three-pointers late in the game, while Ampofo added key free throws to keep the pressure on Park. Despite closing the deficit to a single possession, Park's Nadiyah Cooper and Makayla Artis converted critical baskets and free throws to preserve the win.

Key Performers

• Maxine Ampofo: Led all scorers with 16 points and added eight rebounds, shooting 5-for-14 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
• Camila Barreno: Finished with 13 points, four steals, and two rebounds, delivering consistent scoring throughout the game.
• Sophia Rodriguez: Provided six points on 2-for-8 three-point shooting, including two key baskets late in the game.
• Avery Walker-Henry: Chipped in nine points and four rebounds, contributing to Graceland's strong defensive effort in the second half.

Park was led by Nadiyah Cooper, who tallied 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Emma Perry, who added 16 points, including four three-pointers. Makayla Artis dominated the boards, securing nine rebounds and adding eight points.

Graceland outscored Park in bench points, 25-7, and dominated points in the paint, 32-22. However, Park's 40.4% shooting efficiency and an 88.2% mark at the free-throw line proved decisive. The Yellowjackets finished the game shooting 38.7% from the field, including 26.1% from three-point range.

Graceland Assistant Coach Zach Moore praised the team's progress despite the result:

"We are proud of how hard the team played today. The bench was into it the whole game, and everyone played their role very well. It's unfortunate that we didn't come out with the win, but we are moving in the right direction. We are excited to see what we can accomplish when we come back from break."

The Yellowjackets will now take a brief pause for the Christmas holiday before returning to action in the new year. Graceland will face Baker University on January 2 at 2 p.m. in Baldwin City, Kansas.

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