The women’s basketball team has officially kicked off the 2019-2020 season.

As tradition would have it, the women’s first few games took place in Southfield, Mich. during the Lawrence Tech Tip-off Classic.

The Pioneers were still trying to find their groove, but the tournament would prove that they had not found it just yet.

After suffering 85-71 and 84-68 losses in Michigan, the women traveled to Chillicothe, Ohio for their third non-conference game.

Point Park shot 41-percent overall and sank ten 3-pointers for a 72-36 win over Ohio-Chillicothe just five days after their first loss.

For the next nine days, the 1-2 Pioneers rested and practiced in preparation for another trip to Ohio last Friday. This time, to take on the undefeated Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU).

MVNU dominated the first few minutes, getting out to a 12-1 lead. The Pioneers’ sharp shooting for the rest of the quarter resulted in a 19-17 deficit after one.

In the second quarter, Point Park took the lead 35-34 after a trey from freshman guard Lexi Petit, but MVNU took it back just before halftime to send Point Park to the locker room down 36-35.

The third quarter proved more of the same back-and-forth style of play, and at the end of 30 minutes, things were tied up at 52 points apiece.

MVNU controlled play for the majority of the fourth quarter, but Point Park battled back to just a 72-68 deficit with almost two minutes remaining.

The MVNU defense came up big for the next minute, preventing any scoring for the Pioneers and putting them down 76-68 with just 60 seconds remaining.

Each team put up one more basket, but it was not enough for the Pioneers to edge out the Cougars. Point Park took its third loss, 78-70.

Junior guard Michelle Burns led scoring for the Pioneers with 20 points, and Petit added 13 points, all of which came in the first half.

The Pioneers will host Bryant & Stratton for their home opener in the first double header of the season on Saturday.