(Mesa, AZ) Behind an incredible performance by Madison Chappell, The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team made it back-to-back wins with an 87-53 victory over Cal Maritime at Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Ariz., Friday evening. With the win, the Bucs mover to 4-10 overall and 2-6 in the Cal Pac. Cal Maritime falls to 1-10, 1-6 in conference play.
Chappell owns the only triple-double in school history. She went for 14pts, 12 rebounds and 11 steals at SAGU-AIC last season on December 4, 2021. Tonight, she had a glorious evening almost posting another one and was on the cusp of a quadruple-double. The 5-8 forward from Holbrook, Ariz., set career highs for points (16), rebounds (17) and assists (6). She was one steal away from a triple-double with nine and four away from a quadruple double with her six assists. The 17 rebounds are one off of the school record held by fellow teammate Jazmyne Jenkins.
Park did not shoot the ball well tonight and still won by 34. The Buccaneers shot a paltry 34 percent from the floor but posted an opponent team high 38 turnovers. They were able to convert those turnovers into 55 of their 87 points. Cal Maritime actually shot a better percentage the Bucs, but took 35 fewer shots. The Bucs also valued the basketball themselves, only committing 10 turnovers.
The Buccaneers were shorthanded again today as Kayla Schroeder was still out with an ankle injury and Macy Markus only played six minutes due to illness. Markus took advantage of those minutes, scoring 14 points on 5-10 shooting from the floor and 4-7 from three-point range. Park had three bench players, while Cal Maritime was also playing shorthanded with only two bench players. But there was no denying Park got more from its bench play as it received 42 points from its non-starters compared to just three points for the Keelhaulers.
Kianna Turenne led the Buccos with 21 points, tying her career high set a couple of weeks ago against Kansas Wesleyan. For the second night in a row, all eight Buccaneers played and scored.
The Buccaneer defense was consistent throughout only allowing 13 points in the first, second and fourth quarters, while giving up one addition point in the second. Meanwhile, The Bucs scored over 20 in those same three quarters (1st, 2nd and 4th) while only scoring 17 in the second frame.
Now with some momentum, the Buccaneers hope to continue this winning ride as they attempt to jump back into playoff contention. The competition gets tougher next week as the Bucs welcome Westcliff and reigning Cal Pac Player of the Year Trinity Vasquez to Bell Bank Park next Thursday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m. The Warriors are 5-1 in Cal Pac play a game out of first place.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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