Consistent and calm: that is how a game is won against a weaker opponent. Point Park University’s women’s basketball team triumphed in its American Mideast Conference (AMC) games with a win against Roberts Wesleyan College, 73- 51, on Friday, and another on Saturday against Houston College, 63- 51.

While Friday’s final score might imply an easy victory by the Pioneers, the game did not stand in such distant margins in the first half. By its end, Point Park was up only 31-26 against the Raiders. So how did the Pioneers turn a hopeful contender into a lost cause?

“We played better the second half,” assistant coach Molly McClelland said. “We are usually celebrating at halftime, thinking that the first half is all that matters. But the difference with this game is that we were actually consistent the entire game.”

The moment the second half commenced, the game adopted an intense spirit. With only a five-point difference, the match was anyone’s to win, and both the Pioneers and Raiders had come for it-with less than friendly means. Engaging in frequent floor sprawls, double-team digging and threatening shoves, players from both teams had become blatantly more physical and were caught up in a spastic frenzy to gain possession with little regard to the means of doing it.

Point Park had little success driving and scoring. Most of its points were scored by outside shots and layups. With hesitance to shoot, prolonged plays and sloppy passing, Point Park did not create the most efficient offense, but the Raiders’ own disorganization prevented them from capitalizing on Point Park’s mistakes.

By the end of the game, the Pioneers had a collective 16 personal fouls, though many of them were debatable. The Raiders were not innocent either, committing 10 of their own, yet somehow managed to avoid getting called for fouls that the Pioneers were reprimanded for. Nevertheless, the Raiders’ luck at the foul line could not atone for its 31.7 percent success under the arc.

The Houghton Highlanders were ranked higher than Roberts Wesleyan and presented a greater challenge. The Pioneers took command of the game early by tactfully reading plays, capitalizing on Houghton’s air balls and quickly piecing together offensive attacks.