(Glendale, AZ) The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team dropped a 77-66 contest to Arizona Christian this afternoon at the ACU Events Center. With the loss the Bucs fall to 5-6 on the season.
The Bucs got off to a strong start leading the Firestorm by nine at the end of the first quarter 20-11. The Bucs shot 59 percent from the floor for the quarter and held the Firestorm to 31 percent. The Bucs also owned a sizable lead on the glass 13-5.
ACU managed to turn things around in the second quarter out scoring the Bucs by eight points (24-16) to cut the deficit to one at halftime (36-35). After neither team made a three-pointer in the first quarter, the two teams combined for eight made trifectas in the second. ACU had five, while the Bucs had three.
Arizona Christian took the lead for the first time 51 seconds into the third quarter as they went on a 10-0 run to start the second half. The Firestorm built their lead up to as many as 10 points (53-43) before the Bucs went on a 9-2 run of its own to cut the deficit to three by the end of the quarter 55-52.
The fourth quarter saw ACU once again break the game open with some timely shooting and Buccaneer turnovers. Park also struggled to put the biscuit in the basket as they shot a lowly 17 percent from the floor only making three shots in the quarter from the floor.
As a team, the Bucs finished shooting 38 from the floor and only 21 percent from three-point range. The Bucs once again struggled at the line shooting 52 percent (11-21). This percentage included an 8-12 fourth quarter. The Buccaneers also struggled with turnovers, committing 22 miscues which ACU turned into 18 points. ACU shot 42 from the floor.
Faith Watkins had her best game as a Buc scoring wise putting up a season high 14 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Madison Chappell also had nine rebounds on the afternoon. The Bucs leading scorer Kayla Schroeder finished with 16 points and she led the team with 4 assists.
Park Gilbert returns to Cal Pac Conference play next week as they travel to face Saint Katherine on Thursday, January 4 at 3 p.m. Arizona time and Westcliff on Saturday, January 6, also at 3 p.m. Arizona time.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
Click on Logo
