(Chandler, AZ) The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team was in a must win game with playoff implications on the line against their intrastate rival. The Bucs came away with a big time 93-77 triumph against Benedictine Mesa Saturday afternoon at Chandler Gilbert Community College.
The Bucs up their record to 7-6 in conference play and BENU drops to 6-7 in the GSAC.
This was Park Gilbert’s first win against Benedictine Mesa since February 16, 2022, almost three years to the day. The win snaps a five-game losing streak to Benedictine Mesa.
The first quarter was played evenly with both teams scoring 16 points. The second quarter saw the Bucs break the game open with a 26-point quarter to take a 12 point lead into halftime. The Bucs shot 53 percent in the second quarter and made four three point baskets. This was the start of a spectacular shooting day for the Bucs.
The Bucs shooting percentage improved in each quarter. After shooting 53 percent in the second quarter, the third quarter saw Benedictine outscore the Park by a point to cut the lead to 11 but the Bucs shot 55 percent from the floor. They then took their scoring to another level in the final frame, scoring 30 points and shooting 69 percent from the floor. The Bucs shot 11-16 from the floor in the fourth and 3-6 from three in the fourth.
Individually, Alynna Palacios had her best scoring day in her Park career going for 24 points including a career high three-point baskets. She also pulled down eight rebounds and had three steals. Savannah Huerta knocked down four more three-point baskets to maintain her per game average of four three-pointers per game. She made 5-10 shots from the field and made 8-9 at the free throw line. She finished with 22 points.
Hemani Kalia, making her second start of the year scored 15 points. Kayla Schroeder led the team with six assists and added 13 points.
The Bucs have one game remaining in the regular season next Thursday, February 20 against OUAZ. The scenario is simple. Win and you’re in, lose and you need help. The Bucs lost on a buzzer beater to OUAZ to start the GSAC season and OUAZ is coming off of a win over No. 1 seed ACU who the Bucs lost to earlier this week.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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