(Mesa, AZ) Entering the 2024-25 season, the Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team was excited unveil its “Full Sail” system on opponents and after one game, full sail was on full display as the Buccaneers set numerous scoring records en route to a 122-33 win over Nelson University this evening at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
The Buccaneers rewrote the record book on a few fronts. They set the record for points (122, previous record 117). Three-point field goals made (20, previous record 14), Three-point field goals attempted (54, previous record 38), assists (34, previous record 32) forced turnovers (53, previous record 38), steals (33, previous record 29) and winning margin (89, previous record 79).
The Bucs scored 30 or more points in three of the four quarters and scored 29 points in the quarter they didn’t. The Bucs shot 44 percent from the floor and 37 percent from beyond the arc. The Buccos were also solid at the charity stripe making 75 percent (18-24) of their free throws. Park turned the turnovers into almost half of their points as the Bucs converted the 53 Nelson miscues into 60 points.
Park out rebounded the Warriors by 13 (53-40) and dominated on the offensive glass 28-13 which turned into 26 second chance points. The Bucs received 57 points from its bench. The Bucs missed 10 layups so the final damage could have been worse.
Individually, the two players who combined for 24 20-point games a year ago are one for one this year in the first game as senior transfer Savannah Huerta who averaged almost 19 points per game last year at Multnomah posted 23 points tonight on 7-18 shooting and 6-15 from long range. Kayla Schroeder, who averaged 19.2 points per contest last year as she earned third team all-America honors poured in 21 points on 8-15 shooting and 5-11 from three. Both players were efficient, posting those numbers in 19 minutes of play each. Freshman Jacie Bunck added 17 points in 14 minutes as the only other Buccaneer in double figures and pulled down five rebounds.
No player played more than 19 minutes tonight for Bucs as all 16 players on the Bucs bench made an appearance.
Junior Alynna Palacios led the team on the glass with 11 boards, followed by freshman Kiyah Hatcher with 10. Senior point guard Arianna Reyes dished out seven assists while scoring five points while fellow point woman freshman Camisha Fuson had six points and five assists. Reyes was tied for the team lead in steals with five along with Palacios and Bunck.
Huerta (23 points), Reyes (7 assists) and Palacios (11 rebounds) set school records in each category for a player making their debut in a Bucs uniform.
The Buccaneers and Warriors will run it back in Phoenix, Ariz., in two days on Saturday, October 26 at 5 p.m. at Nelson University Gym.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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