ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A career performance for freshman guard Naomi Kaskavitch was not enough on Friday afternoon, as the North Park Women's Basketball team faded in a 52-46 loss to Berry College.

Sophomore guard Aliyah Hershberger scored the first eight points for the Vikings on a fastbreak layup and consecutive threes, tying the game 8-8 five minutes into the first quarter.

Both teams were looking to find success around the perimeter, evidenced by 11 attempts in 10 minutes by the two Vikings' teams. Kaskavitch was responsible for two of those made threes, as Berry kept a one-point advantage, 17-16, after the first quarter.

North Park's zone defense was paying off well in the second quarter, forcing deep shots from the Berry offense. The defense prevented opportunities around the rim, not allowing a single free throw attempt and holding Berry to four points in the quarter.

Unfortunately, the Vikings from Georgia totaled 20 points in the third quarter and eliminated a 33-28 lead that was built thanks to free throws from sophomore forward Caroline Long, jumpers by fifth-year Evelyn Abundes, and another three by Kaskavitch. 

Berry would keep this lead all of the fourth quarter as North Park fell to the 8-3 team, 52-46.

Kaskavitch had one of the best three-point shooting displays for North Park through 12 games played, establishing plenty of career highs: Points (18), Shots Made (6), and Threes Made (6). Those six threes are good for fourth-best in program history.

What's Next?

North Park (3-9) has plenty of time off before returning in the New Year for a CCIW contest against Carthage College (8-2, 1-1 CCIW) on Saturday, Jan. 4. Tipoff inside Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wisconsin is set for 2:00 PM CT.