(Mesa, AZ) Just when you think things could not get any worse for the Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team, two more players went down due to injury since its last contest and left the team with only eight healthy players. This and a poor shooting night from beyond the arc combined with bad turnovers led to an 84-75 loss at the hands of Benedictine Mesa at Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Ariz.
The Buccaneers have now lost six games in a row, the longest losing streak in school history and have still not won a game in conference play as they drop to 2-6, 0-5 in the Cal Pac.
Both teams shot 43 percent from the floor for the game. In fact, the Buccaneers made more shots from the floor then the Redhawks (32-21), but the difference came down to three-pointers made (7-2 in favor of the BENU) and free throws made (15-9 BENU). The Redhawks had more attempts from the charity stripe (21-15) but much of that was due to the attempts they received at the end of the contest when the Bucs were fouling in an attempt to make a comeback.
The other thing which hurt the Bucs chances were turnovers. Park Gilbert committed 24 turnovers which BENU turned into 25 points. The Redhawks only committed 18 turnovers which the Bucs converted into 16 points. A nine-point difference which was also the final margin of victory. The Bucs held the lead at the half after a strong second quarter but were outscored 45-35 in the second half.
Kianna Turenne had a career day, leading the Bucs in scoring with a career high 17 points on 7-11 shooting from the floor and 3-4 from the line. Her previous high was 13 points in her first game as a Buccaneer against Ottawa (Ariz.) last year. Turenne missed two three-pointers, so she made seven of her other nine shots inside the arc. Jayla Reliford tied her career high with 10 assists, which matches the total she had in the Bucs last game against La Sierra. She also posted a season high nine points. Madison Chappell led the Bucs with 11 rebounds but fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers have one more game before the holiday break as they host Kansas Wesleyan in two days on Monday, December 19 at 2 p.m. at Bell Bank Park. This contest will be held in Fieldhouse C at Bell Bank Park where the semifinal and final games of the Cal Pac Conference Championships will be held in February.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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