(Mesa, AZ) Before the season started, Park University head coach Ben York wanted to test his new team and see how they would fare against the top teams in the country. So far the Bucs are 1-2 against top-25 competition after a 85-74 loss to No. 6 University of Providence, but the Bucs have acquitted themselves well with a team which is still missing three key pieces.
The Bucs jumped on top 2-0 in the first quarter and actually was getting the better of play against the Argos but did not back it up with more points and after getting their footing, the Argos went on an 11-0 run and built upon that run to take an 11-point lead at the end of the first frame.
Undaunted, Park Gilbert made a run in the second quarter after UOP built the lead up to a high as 17 points. A 13-0 run led by 5 points from Savannah Huerta cut the lead to four. The Bucs would trail by six headed into halftime. The Bucs outscored the Argos 20-15 in the quarter.
The Buccaneers lead the nation in three-point shots made, but only made four in the first half. The Bucs would need bump this number up going in to the second half to keep up with efficient Argos.
The came out firing in the second half, knocking down five three-point baskets in the third quarter, but the Argos still outscored the Bucs by four in the frame and the Buccos found themselves down 10 going in the final stanza.
The Bucs would keep firing and drop another four trifectas in the fourth and would stay toe-to-toe with the Argos point wise, but for the comeback, the Bucs needed to get defensive stops and were unable to do so.
The Bucs showed they could stand face-to-face with the No. 6 team in the country. The slow first quarter hurt their chances and they had to play catch up all night which is hard to do.
Looking at the stat line, both teams shot 46 percent from the floor, but the Argos had 16 more attempts and seven more makes. The Bucs also shot 46 percent from three and made four more trifectas than the Argos and things were pretty even at the charity stripe as UOP had 14 made free throws and the Bucs 13.
Individually, Kayla Schroeder led the team with 18 points and 7 assists, Aylnna Palacios had 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, Huerta finished with 16 points.
Things don’t get any easier for the Bucs as next Wednesday, Nov. 20, they will face off with Oregon Tech who is receiving votes in the top 25 poll and was preseason ranked 20th.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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