YORK, Neb. – The York University women's basketball team posted an 81-65 victory over Southwestern Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers are now 6-9 on the year, including 1-7 in KCAC action. 

Head coach Corinna Minjarez's team was guided by Destiny Shepherd's 22-point effort. Sylvia Valentino added 14 points and five rebounds while Zoe Brown totaled 13 points. Alliyana Page garnered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Monique Contreras had nine points and seven assists while Amaya Payne totaled four points and six boards.

Lauren Perez added three points and three rebounds while Yareli Gomez and Alesia Rand had two points apiece. Gomez also secured seven rebounds. 

Trailing 10-7 with 3:00 to play in the first quarter, Shepherd hit a pair of free throws. Seconds later, she found Contreras for a three-point bucket, giving the home team a 12-10 lead. Contreras connected with Perez for a shot from distance at the 2:03 mark. A lay-up by Payne and two free throws by Shepherd extended the lead to 19-10 entering the second quarter.

Baskets from Shepherd and Page pushed the margin to 13, 23-10, with 7:48 to play before intermission. A three-point bucket by Shepherd made it 26-14 with 5:36 to go. Up 29-16 after a deep three-point shot from Brown, the Moundbuilders embarked on a 9-0 run to end the quarter, making it 29-25 at the break. 

Leading 36-28, Rand buried a jumper and Contreras connected from downtown, making it 39-28 at the 7:48 mark of the third quarter. Holding a 41-33 edge, Valentino found Brown for a three-ball, extending the margin to 11, 44-33. Up 47-38, Valentino drilled back-to-back three-point buckets, giving the home team a 14-point cushion, 53-39. She added another deep basket with 1:01 to play in the frame, helping the Panthers take a 56-43 lead into the final 10 minutes of action. 

Buckets from Shepherd and Page started the fourth all but put the game away for York. Leading by 10, Page took a pass from Adams for a lay-up. Shepherd found Contreras for a three-point basket, propelling the squad to a 65-50 margin with 6:47 to play. Up by nine, 69-60, Shepherd hit two free throws and Valentino made a lay-up, once again making it a double-digit lead at 73-60. With a 73-65 lead, Minjarez's squad scored the final eight points of the game over the final 81 seconds for the win. 

For the game, York drained 30-of-69 from the floor, including 14-of-38 from distance. The team hit seven-of-12 from the charity stripe. Minjarez's squad held a 49-39 edge on the glass, including a 14-10 margin on the offensive boards. The Panthers dished out 20 assists and forced 20 turnovers. York scored 24 points off miscues and netted 26 points in the lane.

The Panthers return to action Wednesday when they play at McPherson College at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com.