(Mesa, AZ) One down, two more to go. The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team took care of business this afternoon at Bell Bank Park with a 73-69 win over Westcliff University to move to 12-12 overall and 10-8 in the Cal Pac Conference. Westcliff falls to 14-9, 11-6.
The Buccaneers control their destiny. If they win out, they make the conference tournament. Otherwise, they will need help from others. The mere fact they are in this position is incredible considering the start they had to the conference season. The Bucs were 0-6 to start with three blown fourth quarter leads. But since the poor showing they have won 10 of 12 and are two wins away from making the conference tournament for the second year in a row. The Bucs currently sit in sixth place, the final spot for the conference tournament. Nothing is set in stone as they still have an outside shot of finishing as high as fourth and can still fall out of the tournament as well.
This game was a continuation of a game which started on January 12. The Buccaneers led 8-4 early in the first quarter when the power went out at Bell Bank Park due to a storm in the area. By conference rule, the game was picked up right where it left off when the lights went out. Both teams had to substitute for starters who had been injured in the time between games. Madison Chappell for Park and Eva Taylor for Westcliff.
Park got off to a hot start leading after the first quarter 21-10. Westcliff was without its best player, reigning Cal Pac Player of the Year Trinity Vasquez who was on the bench with two fouls, picked up when the game was first played in January. Jazmyne Jenkins got off to a quick start with 10 points in the quarter and six rebounds.
Park opened the lead to 14 by halftime with another strong quarter 19 points. Both Jayla Reliford and Kayla Schroeder deposited six points in the period.
The second half saw Park allow the Warriors to get back into the game. The Bucs only shot 27.8 percent from the floor while the Warriors made half of it its attempts to win the quarter 18-11. The Bucs still held a seven point lead heading into the final frame, but this would not be an easy finish by any stretch of the imagination.
Through three quarters, Park had held Vasquez to six points, but a player that talented is hard to keep contained for a whole game. Vasquez came out in the fourth quarter with a determination to attempt to win the game on her own. She scored almost half of the Westcliff points in the quarter as she scored 12 of the 25 points the Warriors posted the stanza. But every time the Warriors made a run, the Bucs responded with an answer on their end of the floor. Macy Markus had eight points, Kiana Turenne had seven and Schroeder had five, all of hers coming from the line. Markus and Schroeder combined were 8-10 from the charity stripe in the quarter.
Westcliff managed to tie the game with 6:55 remaining, but a Turenne hoop and harm resulted not only in a free throw for Turenne but a technical foul was called against Westcliff for slamming the ball into the ground. Turenne missed her free throw, but Schroeder made both of the technical shots and then the Bucs would go up six after another Turenne layup on the ensuing possession. Westcliff would not be this close again until a Vasquez jumper cut the lead to two with nine seconds remaining. After a foul, Schroeder would make two more free throws to seal the win.
Markus had 17 points to lead the Bucs to go along with seven boards. Jenkins posted her seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Schroeder also had 16, while Reliford came close to a triple-double with 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
The Buccaneers also received some good news today on the injury front as the shoulder injury to forward Madison Chappell might not be as bad as previously thought. Chappell was given clearance to dribble today and will attempt to shoot tomorrow. It is possible she could be cleared to play this weekend, when it was initially thought she might be done for the season.
The Bucs now have to travel to Irvine, Calif., to try and duplicate the feat as they play Westcliff again on Friday, February 17 at 8:30 p.m. Arizona time. Westcliff will be playing its fourth game in seven days as they play Embry Riddle the night before.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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