photo by Matt Nemeth 
Head Coach Tony Grenek and the women’s basketball team plan for the second half of a game against La Roche College on Nov. 3.

                                                                                                            photo by Matt Nemeth
Freshman center Baylee Buleca fends off opponents as she brings the ball down court. Point Park lost the game 77-47.

The Point Park women’s basketball team led by as many as 15 points in its season opener against West Virginia Tech, but when that advantage evaporated, the Pioneers had to regroup.

Point Park did exactly that by winning its third season opener 87-82 against West Virginia Tech.

“Whenever that happened, we told ourselves that we had to relax and that we had this game,” center Sam Weir, Women’s Basketball Player of the Week  said. “We had to pick ourselves up and go on a streak. Once you hit that streak, it puts them back a little bit.”

Weir had 26 points and eight rebounds and made 10 shots from the field and made the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) All-Conference Team last season, but felt she had to improve.

“I definitely am trying to make better decisions,” Weir said. “Last year I was nervous all of the time and this year I feel more relaxed and can make better decisions.”

Sophomore guard Alexis Lyers expressed a similar sentiment.

“Freshman year, you’re so nervous, but coach Grenek is a great coach,” Lyers said. “He’ll tell you to calm down and just makes everything feel so easygoing.”

Lyers had seven first half points off the bench which kept the Pioneers in the lead by a 45-42 margin at halftime.

“It was different, but sometimes I’m not positive and I’m trying to stay positive this time and try to make good free throws,” Lyers said. “It’s good to be a spark for the team because if someone’s down, you try to be the person that picks them up and when you do, it’s great.”

In the contest, sophomore forward Carly Forse had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.  Sophomore transfer and guard Kelly Johnson also had 16 points and added seven assists.

Point Park’s defense forced 27 turnovers in the game and amassed 18 total steals led by Johnson’s six steals and freshman guard Shaniya Rivers’s four.

The Pioneers scored the first five points of the game and took the 15 point lead with 11:41 remaining in the first half. West Virginia Tech cut its deficit to two points but Lyers’ seven made free throws helped Point Park lead 45-42 at halftime.

Both teams had scoring droughts in the second half with Point Park scoring the opening seven points, but West Virginia Tech responded with 19 of the next 26 and shortly after another three point basket which gave them a 64-61 lead.

With both teams looking for separation, the next six minutes served as a battle for control. The 4:22 mark saw Weir convert a three point play which gave Point Park a 77-76 lead, which would not be relinquished.

“It was definitely a battle out there, but we did what we were supposed to do and got a big win,” Weir said.

Point Park next heads to Michigan to take on Madonna University and Concordia University on, Friday and Saturday, respectively.