CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 18 Parkland women's basketball dropped its 2018-19 regular season opener, 80-74, to visiting Moraine Valley on Friday night at Donald Dodds Athletic Complex. Sophomore Micah Tapscott led the Cobras with 14 points, while sophomore Olivia Babcock also reached double figures with 11.

Despite outshooting Moraine Valley, 47-percent to 40-percent, in the loss, a 24-14, third-quarter run by Moraine Valley proved to be the difference.

From the tip, Parkland and Moraine Valley played an evenly-matched opening quarter, as the two sides traded points with neither side mounting more than a one-possession lead. Both sides scoring 18 points in the opening frame, Tapscott, Crystal Mathis and Emily Meinert each chipped in four apiece to help the Cobras keep pace.

The Cobras quickly broke the tie with a 5-0 scoring run to start the second half, as Tapscott made a jumper, and then Alexus Cole drained a three-point field goal, only to have the Cyclones respond with their own five-point spurt. Again tied, a Babcock three set the Cobras on another 6-0 run, retaking the lead at 29-23. Holding the lead through the final five minutes of the first half, the Cobras lead grew to as big as eight before Moraine Valley cut to three points to close the half.

Out of the halftime break, Moraine Valley's Julia Ruzevich provided a spark for the visiting Cyclones with 12 of the visiting team's 24 points in the third period to take their first lead since the first quarter. Outscoring the Cobras 24-14, Moraine Valley made 10 of 12 free throw attempts and led, 60-53, at the end of the third.

The final period was again back-and-forth, as the Cobras used an 11-5 scoring run, started by five straight points from Cassie Russo, to cut the deficit to just two points, 70-68, with four minutes remaining. However, two points would be as close as the Cobras could get as Moraine Valley made key free throws down the stretch.

Up next, the Cobras are back on the court for their second game in as many days tomorrow, November 3, when they host Southeastern (Iowa) at 3 p.m. central time.