(Glendale, AZ) The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team dropped its first conference game, losing to Benedictine Mesa 71-69 at the ACU Events Center this afternoon. The Bucs drop to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The Redhawks move to 3-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Benedictine Mesa jumped out to a quick start in the first quarter shooting 60 percent (9-15) from the floor which enabled them to have a 21-point quarter and a five-point lead. The Bucs only shot 35 percent from the floor, so they had to be pleased they only trailed by five.
The Bucs were able to cut into the lead in the second quarter, even thought BENU open the lead to as large as 10 points in the quarter. The Buccos were able to cut it to one before the Redhawks got it back to four at the half. The Bucs shot 82 percent (9-11) for the quarter and held the Redhawks to 25 percent shooting, but Benedictine had 13 more attempts in quarter and was 6-6 from the free throw line.
Park seemingly took control of the game coming out of halftime, winning the third quarter 24-16. Kayla Shroeder started to heat up, scoring 15 points in the quarter with three, three-point baskets. The Bucs held a four-point lead heading into the fourth, but it could have been more as the Bucs free throw shooting woes continued to plague them as they went 3-7 from the line in the quarter while BENU went 5-6.
Park Gilbert had been undefeated with a lead heading into the fourth quarter this season. But the Bucs only made one field goal over the final 10 minutes and did not make a field goal in the last 8:44 of the game, going 0-6. The Benedictine defense took things to another level as they did not allow Schroeder to take a shot in the final frame and she only scored two of her game high 24 points on two free throws.
Park Gilbert head coach Ben York was concerned missed free throws could cost the Bucs a close game and today may have been the day as the Bucs were 12-20 (60 percent) from the charity stripe while the Redhawks were 13-15 (87 percent). The Bucs had a better percentage from the floor (44-40) and three-point range (50-33). The Bucs also led on the boards (42-33) and held the Redhawks top two scorers to 20 points.
What also cost the Bucs were loss of possessions due to turnovers (21) which the Redhawks turned into 21 points.
Individually, Schroeder has now scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and for the fourth time this season. Jayla Reliford scored 11 and had seven assists and two steals. Madison Chappell led the group with eight rebounds.
The Bucs have one more game ahead of the holiday break as they will face Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday, December 19 at 7 p.m. once again at Arizona Christian University in the ACU Events Center.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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