BUCKHANNON, W.Va. - The Point Park women's basketball team entered Saturday's matchup against West Virginia Wesleyan looking to secure its first three-game winning streak of the season. However, the Pioneers came up short on the road, falling by a final score of 73-58.
 
Point Park held its own in the first half against the third-ranked team in the MEC, aiming for its third consecutive victory. The Pioneers controlled the lead for 5 minutes and 52 seconds in the first quarter while shooting an efficient 47.1% from the field.
 
At halftime, the Pioneers remained within striking distance, trailing by just six points, 39-33.
 
However, West Virginia Wesleyan took control in the third quarter, outscoring Point Park 18-9, including a decisive 16-3 run from the 5:51 mark to the end of the quarter, creating a gap the Pioneers couldn't recover from.
 
Point Park's Ari Bleda led the team with a season-high 16 points, She also showcased her all-around game, leading the team with four assists and adding two steals to her strong defensive performance. Bleda now has 41 steals on the season, ranking sixth in the MEC.
 
In all, the Pioneers had three players score in double figures. In addition to Bleda, Alexis Giles finished with 15 points and Camile Fultz added 13.
 
For Giles, nine of her points came from beyond the arc, where she went 3-for-9 on the afternoon. She now has a team-high 38 3-pointers on the season.
 
Fultz added 13 points, with seven coming in the second quarter. She was the Pioneers' most efficient scorer, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan was led by Emma Witt, the MEC's second-leading scorer, who accounted for 42% of the Bobcats' offense with a standout 31-point performance. The Bobcats had four players finish in double figures.
 
Point Park is 3-2 in its last five games and will travel to Glenville State on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. matchup. Glenville State enters the game on a three-game losing streak.
 
The Pioneers currently hold a 6-13 overall record and are 4-9 in conference play.
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