(Orem, UT)  In the immortal words of Maxwell Smart, “Missed it, by that much.” The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team just barely missed out on upsetting NCAA Division I Utah Valley University, losing its exhibition contest 59-54 at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah despite leading for over 32 of the 40 minutes in the game.

Last year, the Buccaneers rolled into UVU and took a 43-point beatdown at the hands of the Wolverines. That game was a distant memory as the Bucs dominated play for more than three quarters.

The Buccaneers set the tone early, taking an eight-point lead after the first quarter 16-8. Senior Macy Markus, a former UVU player, got the scoring going for Park with a driving basket to get things started and Park would never trail in the quarter.  Markus would score nine of the Bucs 16 points in the period.

The Wolverines would start to cut into the Park lead, bringing the score as close three points (26-23) with 3:54 left in the quarter before the Bucs would extend the margin back to five at 30-25 at the half. Junior Jazmyne Jenkinshad six points and four boards in the quarter as the Bucs had now gone 20 minutes with the lead.

Utah Valley came out firing at the start of the third quarter going on an 9-0 run to take its first lead 34-32. But as soon as the Wolverines took the lead, the Bucs snatched it right back as behind a Kayla Schroeder three. Then it became a back-and-forth battle as the Bucs and Wolverines exchanged the lead six times before the Park Gilbert reestablished control and led by two at the end of the third frame 46-44 before a stunned crowd at the UCCU center.

For UCU this was supposed to be a tune-up, a walkover, an easy win to get their confidence up.  But the Bucs were going to make the Wolverines earn it if they wanted to get the win.

The downside despite the fact Park had led after all three quarters was the fact that UVU had outscored the Bucs in the second and third periods by a combined 36-30.

In the fourth quarter, everything looked to be going the Bucs way. The went on a 5-0 run to start the quarter and held a five-point advantage 54-49 with 3:11 to go after two Madison Chappell free throws. But the Wolverine defense clamped down and the Bucs went 0-3 from the floor over the final 191 seconds. The Wolverines tied the game at 54-all with 1:17 left.  Then took the lead for good with 49 seconds remaining on the three-point play. They converted a layup late for the final margin, but the Bucs showed they can play with top level competition and should be a top contender in the Cal Pac Conference this season.

Overall, the Bucs shot 36 percent from the field and had 35 rebounds, only two fewer than Utah Valley who had a distinct size advantage on the Bucs. The Bucs turned the Wolverines over 17 times and turned it into 19 points and dominated second chance points 14-6.

Individually, Markus led the scoring with 18 points. Jenkins posted another double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, nine of them on the offensive glass. Chappell added 11 points seven rebounds and five steals. Jayla Reliford had six assists.

The Bucs now return home for another regular season game as they will host Ottawa (Ariz.) on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at Bell Bank Park.  The Buccaneers beat OUAZ two times last season, winning by 40 at home and 10 points in the second matchup in Surprise, Ariz. OUAZ is currently 2-2 with a Thursday home matchup with SAGU-AIC on tap.