(Mesa, AZ) Today’s Park University Gilbert women’s basketball game was a game of milestones. The final score saw the Buccaneers win their fourth game in a row 70-56 over Goshen College at Legacy Sports Park. The Buccos win stopped the Maple Leafs eight-game winning streak. But the story of the game was Buc junior guard Kayla Schroederas she became the Park Gilbert women’s basketball team all-time leading scorer
Schroeder not only became the Bucs all-time leading scorer but also set a new career high for points in the process as she posted her first 30-point game in her career. Coming into the game, Schroeder needed three points to pass Macy Markus (818 pts) as the all-time leader. Head coach Ben York ran a play on the first possession to try and get the record out of the way. Schroeder had a look at a three but missed it and it would be the only three-pointer she would miss all game.
Schroeder made a jumper to tie the record 90 seconds into the quarter, but she would have to wait about four more minutes to break the record and she would do as only she could with a long range three-point shot. Schroeder is already the school’s all-time leader in three-point shots made, a record she has held since her freshman campaign.
Schroeder was not done as she went on a tear for 18 first half points as the Bucs opened a 14-point lead after the first quarter (20-6) and took a 12-point advantage into the intermission. The Bucs scored 19-points in the second quarter and Schroeder had 13 of them.
One of the keys to the Bucs success against a talented Goshen squad was the ability to shut down their top scorer, 6-3 post Syanne Mohamed. Mohamed had not scored less than 18 points in the Leafs last five games, but the Bucs with an active zone defense was able to keep her in check, holding her to four first half points and 14 total for the game.
The second half saw Goshen make a run, cutting the lead to as low as four points on one occasion. But any time Goshen could see the light at the end of the tunnel, the Buccaneers had an answer. In the third quarter, it was Schroeder with a three and a two-point basket answer as the Bucs would leave the third with a nine-point lead. In the fourth, the Leafs cut it to four with over five minutes left in the game. A Madison Chappel hoop and harm basket started a 10-0 run to end the game as the Bucs would not allow another point.
The Bucs defense held Goshen to 36 percent shooting for the contest and 26 percent from the beyond the arc. Park on the other hand, shot 48 percent from the floor and 54 percent from range. Both teams will be practicing their free throw shooting as both squads shot an abysmal 41 percent from the charity stripe.
While the lights were brightly on Schroeder, there were other Bucs who’s contributions were key to the Bucs fifth win of the season.
Jayla Reliford scored 12 points and had six assists and five steals as Bucs turned Goshen over 24 times. Kae Counce and Madison Chappell each had seven points. Faith Watkins was a beast in the post, blocking two shots as she inches closer to the all-time single season and career blocks record. The shots she did not block, she altered and was a key cog in holding Mohamed in check.
The Bucs now return to conference play as they will take on Benedictine Mesa on Saturday, December 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Arizona Christian University. The Bucs home facility is not available, so the contest will be played at the ACU Events Center in Glendale, Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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