(Merced, CA) They say it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season. The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team showed Simpson University it is extremely difficult, as the Buccaneers overcame a sluggish first quarter to win going away 62-50 in the quarterfinals of the California Pacific Conference Women’s Basketball Championships at Gallo Gymnasium at UC Merced.
The Buccaneers are now 2-0 against Simpson in the conference tournament, having beaten them in the 2022 championships 75-51.
The first quarter started well but end slowly for the Bucs as they scored the first bucket on a Jayla Reliford field goal which was a sign of things to come. But after this, only nine points scored and 28 percent shooting for the Buccos and they trailed by six points at the end of the first frame.
The Bucs were 1-7 this season when trailing after the first quarter. With this in mind, the Bucs needed a solid second quarter to give themselves a chance and they were able to do this outscoring the Red Hawks 20-6 in the second frame. Park was led in the first half by Reliford (16 pts) and Kayla Schroeder (10 pts) who scored 26 of the Bucs 31 first half points. The Buccaneer were 12-7 this season when leading at the half.
The Red Hawks overcame an 11-point deficit at the half the last time these two teams met just a couple of weeks ago in Redding, Calif. This time it was only an eight point advantage, so the question was how would the Bucs respond this time through?
The Buccaneer bench was the saving grace in the second half as the third quarter did not start well for the Bucs as Simpson took the eight-point deficit and cut the lead to one within three minutes. But the Buccaneers did not blink. With the score 36-35 Bucs, Park Gilbert went on an 11-1 run to end the quarter with an 11-point advantage 47-36. The Buc bench scored 11 points in the quarter after only scoring three points in the first half.
Park entered the game with a 13-3 record with the lead entering the final frame. One of those three losses came against Simpson two weeks ago. This time the Bucs not only held on, they opened their biggest lead of the game, leading by 17 with 2:49 to go. Simpson in a fury whittled it down to 12 points by the final buzzer but the Buccaneers had wrapped up their 10th double-digit win against conference opposition this season.
Reliford has always been the floor general for the Buccaneers, and today she showed how special she can be as she set career highs with 22 points and 11 rebounds. She also added four assists and three steals. Schroeder had 17 points and six rebounds.
Park now has more business to attend to as they take on top seed Antelope Valley tomorrow evening in the semifinals of the championships at 7 p.m. Arizona time.
The two teams split the season series this season with both teams winning on their home floors. The Bucs by eight in November and the Pioneers by six in early February. Reliford did not play in the second match up. A game where the Buccaneers struggled to handle the ball without its point guard, turning the ball over 22 times.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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