MIDWAY, Ky. -- Point Park University women's basketball outscored Midway (Ky.) University, 22-7, in the fourth quarter to earn an 80-73 victory in River States Conference play on Thursday afternoon. 

Point Park (10-3, 3-1 RSC) won for the sixth game in a row and the third straight time in RSC action. The Pioneers did so by coming back from a 71-64 deficit with just over seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter. 

From there, the Pioneers went on a 16-2 run to end the game, and they did not allow a field goal the last 7 minutes and 15 seconds. Midway's Serenti Webb scored a 3-point play on a basket and a foul for that 71-64 lead with 7:15 to go, but that was the last bucket by the Eagles (6-9, 2-3 RSC).

A very stingy defense and efficient offense the rest of the way gave the Pioneers the victory. A couple of big factors for Point Park were free throws -- where the Pioneers were 30 for 42 from the foul line -- and rebounds, which had Point Park lead, 52-39. 

Ari Bleda led Point Park with 19 points and nine rebounds. She had 17 points at the half. The Pioneers were down at that point, 40-38, despite having been up 20-15 at the end of the first quarter. 

Gillian Piccolino tossed in 18 points and was 8 for 8 from the foul line. That included some big ones to ice the game in the final minutes. Emma Pavelek added 12 points, and Aichata Ballo had 11 points off the bench.

On the inside, Gabriella Legister and Fatim Sarr Ndow both had seven points as the post duo combined for 14 points and 14 rebounds. 

Midway was ahead by as much as 61-50 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. Ballo connected on a free throw to pull the Pioneers within 66-58 after three. 

Although the Pioneers cut the deficit to 66-62 early in the fourth, Webb was there for some big plays on her way to 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles. Kassidy Daugthery with 11 points and Jaiden Douthit with 10 were the only other Midway players in double figures. 

But the last 7 minutes were a different story. The Point Park defense forced many missed shots and turnovers while the offense came up with big baskets and free throws. 

Piccolino and Ballo both drove in for layups to tie the game at 71-71 at the 5:20 mark. The score was stuck on that juncture for nearly two minutes with neither team giving an inch. 

But Ballo got to the foul line and made a pair to give the Pioneers the lead, 73-71. The Eagles did draw even on two free throws of their own, but that did not last long as Bleda's jumper at 2:52 put the Pioneers ahead for good, 75-73. 

Three stops in a row by the Point Park defense and the Pioneers going 5 for 6 on free throws sealed the game. Piccolino was 4 for 4 to close it out. Point Park added one final steal to end it. 

Point Park ended up with advantages of 22-11 on points off turnovers and 24-12 in second-chance points. 

Point Park's weekend road trip continues on Saturday at IU Southeast. Tipoff is 1:00 p.m. ET in New Albany, Ind., for an RSC East-West Division crossover matchup. Point Park is currently in second place in the RSC East.