(Chandler, AZ) The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team utilized a total team effort to defeat The Master’s University 85-79 in a matchup of 3-1 teams in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference this afternoon at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
This was the first win the series for the Buccaneers who had lost to the Mustangs twice before in non-conference matchups in 2021 and last season. If this game is any indication of what this series could be going forward, fans of both teams will be leaving with more gray hairs than when they arrived on a regular basis.
The Buccaneers now are 10-5 on the season and 4-1 in conference play and The Master’s drops to 10-6 overall and 3-2.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the jump as TMU dominated in the paint and on the glass while the Bucs relied on its shooting and pressure defense to stay within striking distance. In the first quarter, the two teams exchanged the lead 10 times with the Mustangs holding a two point advantage (21-19) at the end of the quarter. Savannah Huerta scored eight points, in the frame.
The second quarter saw TMU hold on to the lead throughout the stanza building up the lead to as large as seven points before the Bucs cut the deficit to four headed to intermission. Guard Hemani Kalia kept the Bucs in the game, knocking down three trifectas in the quarter, scoring nine points.
The Bucs knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half, which for a lot of teams is a really good game. Even last year, the Buccaneers would have been happy with seven three-point shots made for a game. The Bucs lead the nation entering the game in three-point field goals made per game at 12.7. Not only did they meet this mark in the second half, they obliterated it en route to the win.
The Buccaneers outscored the Mustangs 49-39 in the second half. The third quarter started with TMU extending the lead to six, but two free throws and a layup by Huerta and two three-point baskets by Kayla Schroeder knotted the contest at 46-all four minutes into the third quarter. Park took its first lead on its next possession as Janet Arias hit her only basket of the day, but it was a big one, her first three-pointer of the season to give the Bucs a three-point lead. The Bucs held onto the lead until last in the stanza as The Master’s battled back to take one-point leads at 1:35 of the quarter and again with one second remaining to lead at the end of the third 61-60. Schroeder led the team with 11 points in the quarter. The Bucs went 5-9 from three in the quarter.
The Master’s held onto the lead for the first three-plus minutes of the fourth quarter but three long range bombs from Huerta and Schroeder and a jumper by Arianna Reyes gave the Bucs the lead with about six and half minutes to go. TMU would tie the seconds later on a free throw, but another Huerta bomb gave the Bucs the lead for good as they would go on to outscore the Mustangs 14-8 over the remainder of the game to salt away a six-point victory.
The Buccaneers made 17 three-point baskets on the afternoon, shooting 49 percent. This was the sixth time this season Park Gilbert had made 15 or more threes in a game. Park shot 43 percent from the floor for the game and made 12 of 13 free throws. Of the 12 players the Bucs put on the floor today, 10 of them scored and five knocked down threes.
The Bucs were dominated on the boards by the Mustangs as TMU doubled the number of rebounds the Bucs secured 51-25. TMU corralled 22 on the offensive glass which led to 17 second chances points. They also dominated in the paint outscoring the Bucs 46-20. But the Bucs won the battle from long range outscoring the Mustangs 51-9 from three.
Huerta set a season high with 29 points, surpassing the 28 she scored against Bethesda on November 30. This was her sixth 20 point-plus game this season. She shot 7-13 from three and was 6-6 from the line. Schroeder scored 19 points, shooting 5-10 from beyond and had three assists and four steals. Aubry Saleapaga dished out five assists with only one turnover.
Up next for Park Gilbert is a road contest at Benedictine Mesa on January 23 before returning to Arizona Athletic Grounds to face first place and No. 13 Arizona Christian on Saturday, January 25.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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