(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert men’s and women’s basketball teams took on UC Merced this evening at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. The women got back on the winning track with a 65-49 win, while the men fought gallantly but fell 58-52 to the Bobcats.
Women’s Basketball – Park Gilbert 65, UC Merced 49
The women got back on the winning side of the ledger after a disappointing performance on Thursday against Simpson. Behind 17 points by Kayla Schroeder and a career high 12 points by Bobbi Clark, they picked up its sixth conference win of the season.
The Bucs are now 8-7 overall and 6-2 in Cal Pac Conference play.
The Bucs set the tone in the odd numbered quarters outscoring the Bobcats 37-21 in the first and third quarters. The 16 point difference in those two quarters provided the final margin of victory for the Bucs as the two teams played the even quarters, even (28-28).
The Bucs held the Bobcats to 30 percent from the floor and 24 percent from range. Meanwhile the Bucs were better from the field (38 percent) but not where they ultimately want to be as a team. They shot 62 percent in the third quarter and outshot UCM in every quarter.
Park Gilbert also forced 25 UCM turnover which led to 26 points. Meanwhile the Bobcats were only able to convert the Bucs 17 miscues into nine points.
Schroeder added seven assists in addition to her 17 points. The Cal Pac’s leading scorer had not been getting much help in the scoring department recently, but that changed tonight as Clark added 12 points and three steals. Jenny Todd scored 12 points as she shot 4-5 from three-point range and Jayla Reliford added 10 points and five assists.
Schroeder is now just 30 points from becoming the first Buccaneer to eclipse 1000 points for their career.
Photo – Xavier Hall/Park University Athletics
Men’s Basketball – UC Merced 58, Park Gilbert 22
Neither team could be happy with its shooting performance in this game as both teams struggled to make baskets, especially from three-point range in the game. But ultimately, UC Merced made the key baskets down the stretch to take a 58-52 triumph over Park Gilbert.
Merced only made one three-point basket all game but made three more baskets from the floor and three more free throws to pick up the win. UCM shot 39 percent for the game, while Park Gilbert shot 30 percent. After knocking down 10 three-pointers two days ago, the total dropped to just four today.
The Buccaneers have to feel as though they let one get away tonight against one of the better teams in the conference. The Bucs won the battle of the boards pulling down 45 rebounds to 37 for UCM.
The Bucs and Bobcats went back and forth in the second half with six lead changes. Park’s last lead was at 49-47 with 3:09 to go. Merced took the lead 51-49 a minute later but the Bucs would not go away tying the game at 51 with 1:28. After UCM took the lead again, Aiden Moreno made one of two free throws to cut the lead to one.
Merced would make two free throws and to make the lead three and then force the Bucs into a tough three-point attempt to tie which was off the mark. The Bucs would foul in the hopes UCM would miss their free throws and give them another shot to tie. Cameron Brown would make the back end with seconds to go and another Park turnover and dunk by UCM would provide the final margin.
Caleb Ivy would finish with 14 points and nine rebounds, but he also had a costly technical foul midway through the second half which ended up making a difference in the score late when the Bucs needed a basket. He would be the only Buccaneer in double figures.
Evan Hoosier led the team with 10 rebounds but he also had five turnover, as the Bobcats double teamed him in the post and forced the miscues. Kylan Shorts led the Bucs with four assists, but foul trouble limited his availability on the evening.
Both the men and women now travel to northern California to take on Pacific Union and Cal Maritime on Thursday, January 18 and Saturday, January 20.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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