The women’s basketball team’s run came to end with the regular season finale this year, as the Pioneers sat just one game out of the playoffs in fifth place.

The penultimate game of the year came in Richmond, Ind. against River States Conference (RSC) opponent Indiana University (IU) East.

The Red Wolves wasted no time showing their dominance, racing out to a 19-4 lead to begin the game.

That dominance carried throughout the entire first quarter, and IU East ended those first ten minutes with a 24-12 lead.

Point Park picked up their offense in the second quarter, with both teams shooting 15 points apiece, but the Pioneers still ended the half down 39-27.

IU East got hot again in the third quarter and put Point Park in a 62-44 deficit after a buzzer-beater trey to conclude the quarter.

The Pioneers rallied in the final ten minutes, finally out-shooting the Red Wolves 22-14.

Freshman guard Taylor Kirschner drained a 3-pointer with 2:01 left to get the Pioneers within six, but IU East pulled away in the final minutes and took the win 76-66.

Junior guard Michelle Burns led all scorers with 23 points, followed by freshman guard Lexi Petit’s 14 points and Kirschner’s 11.

The loss to the Red Wolves officially put Point Park outside of postseason contention, but the Pioneers still had one game left on their home court.

The Saturday following that loss was Senior Day for the Pioneers, who are graduating Tyra James, Baylie Mook and Ariana Sanders.

Point Park put up one of their biggest offensive efforts of the season against Ohio Christian University (OCU), shooting 50-percent from the field and seeing five different players in double digits.

The Pioneers dominated the first half, sending the Trailblazers to the locker room with a 45-33 deficit.

A trey by James early on in the third quarter put the Pioneers up 48-35, giving them their biggest lead of the game.

Mook started off the fourth quarter in similar fashion, draining a 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the final ten minutes to give Point Park a 67-61 lead.

The Pioneers’ defense held off OCU in the remaining minutes, solidifying their season finale win 92-88.

Freshman Taylor Rinn led Point Park’s offense with a double-double, posting 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Kirschner followed up with 18 points, 15 of which came from a 5-for-7 performance from beyond the arc.

James and Mook also reached the double-digit mark, with James draining 12 points and Mook adding 11.

James finished the year with the program record for most career treys with 201. Burns captured the record for most single-season 3-pointers at 81, followed closely behind by Kirschner with 78.

On Monday, Burns was named to the All-RSC First Team, Rinn was named to the All-RSC Second Team and James was recognized as Point Park’s representative on the Champions of  Character team.

Point Park finished the year 17-13 overall and 7-9 in conference play.