The women’s basketball team swept the season series against Carlow last Tuesday with a strong offensive showing, registering at least ten 3-pointers for the third time in the team’s last four contests.

Point Park started off with a few quick baskets, which evolved into a 47-27 lead by halftime.

“In this league, you can’t underestimate anyone,” senior guard Maryssa Agurs said. “We played them how we would play anyone else and fired them out.”

The 42 combined rebounds, 31 turnovers and 15 steals accumulated by the Pioneers led to their 69-56 victory at Oakland Catholic High School, just five miles away from their home court.

Point Park had three players in double digits, including a double-double put up by junior forward Sam Weir with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Agurs contributed 11 points and freshman guard Michelle Burns led all scorers with 18 points.

“I just try to play my role for the team,” Weir said. “That’s to pull down as many rebounds as I can, knock down my shots and try to get my hand on anything that they put up in the paint.”

Weir now has six double-doubles on the year. Only three players in the RSC have more than her, including Emma Stille of Carlow.

Stille had another big night for the Celtics, putting up her 13th double-double with 12 points and 19 rebounds. Stille has a conference-best 14 double-doubles entering the week, tallying her latest one in a 59-51 win against Cincinnati Christian last weekend.

When the Pioneers hosted the Celtics back in December, Stille recorded her career-high 33 points, although Point Park took the win, 61-56.

“The first time we played them, we didn’t play our zone very aggressively,” Weir said. “There were a lot of gaps in the paint for her, but this time we really pressured them and didn’t give her the open looks.”

Weir also had five blocks in Tuesday night’s matchup, one off her season high that came against Rio Grande in November. She also tallied a career-high four assists against Carlow.

With Carlow behind them, the Pioneers are looking ahead to a busy week of travel, playing three down-and-back games in five days. The games will ultimately decide where they fall in the playoff race.

“We have adapted well to traveling and we are used to the harsh travel schedules,” Agurs said. “This week, we just have to stay locked in and focused and take one game at a time.”

The RSC East Division remains a close contest. Rio Grande, which is ranked 21st nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II Top 25 Poll, remains in first with a 14-1 RSC record.

Just half a game apiece separates second, third, and fourth place.

Indiana University East, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll, currently sits at second with an RSC record of 11-4.

Point Park holds the third spot at 10-4 in RSC play, and West Virginia Tech rounds out the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the East with a 10-5 RSC record.

“Our team has really been clicking this second half of the season,” Burns said. “I think as long as we have that chemistry going we can beat anyone. Although we lost to both [Rio Grande and West Virginia Tech] in the beginning of the year, I think we’ll be ready to go this week now that we have that chemistry and momentum.”

Now, the Pioneers get the chance to meet both again for a rematch.

“We just have to play our game, which is getting after them for 40 whole minutes,” Weir said. “Plus, we need a little revenge.”

After facing Rio Grande on Tuesday, the Pioneers will travel to Ohio Christian University on Thursday before heading to Beckley, W. Va. for their final regular season game Saturday.