ST. LOUIS – A big lead after a quarter helped seal the deal. Missouri Baptist Women's Basketball pushed the pace with 23 first quarter points and survived a slow second quarter to grab a 69-62 victory against Park (Mo.) in opening night action of American Midwest Conference play in Parkville, Mo.
 
Missouri Baptist (3-1) made its presence felt early on Thursday as the jumped-out to an early lead. After the Pirates built an early 5-2 lead, Chanel Brown and company took control. The senior from Chicago, Ill. Posted eight of the team's 23 in the opening 10 minutes as the Spartans entered the second quarter up by 13.
 
As well as the Spartans played on the offensive end, it was where the points came from that was the most impressive. On a night that Briya Wilborn got into foul trouble (and later fouled out with over four minutes remaining), Alissa Rowden picked-up her teammates.
 
The Strafford, Mo., native and sister of senior Amanda Rowden, had her best offensive game as a Spartan. Rowden went 3-4 from three-point range and picked-up 16 points on the night.
 
Wilborn, though in foul trouble, still managed to have a nice outing. The senior netted 10 points for the Spartans with a game-high five steals.
 
Missouri Baptist gave back some of its gains in the second quarter as Park found its rhythm. The Pirates were held to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor in the period, but managed to outscore the Spartans 20-10 to cut the lead to 33-30 heading into the break.
 
The third quarter was a return to dominance for the Spartans as the team put-up 21 attempts. Though they hit just seven of those, the team from St. Louis took advantage of nine Pirate fouls. Missouri Baptist hit nine of 11 free throws in the period to extend its lead to 57-43 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Pirates put together one final push, but it was the 16-2 run in the third quarter that helped the Spartans to seal the deal.
 
Park was led by Deja Johnson-Ford. The junior from Oakland, Calif., posted 16 points and recorded four steals on the night. Krystal Forrester led the team on the glass with 10 rebounds.
 
Chanel Brown led Missouri Baptist with 18 points as both Amanda Rowden and Chantelle Smith contributed nine apiece.
 
The Spartans shot 72 percent from the charity stripe on the evening as they hit 18 of 25 attempts. Down the stretch, this proved to be a difference maker.
 
With the win, the Spartans will return home on Saturday to face the Eutectics of St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.