Note: This game was played on Saturday. Official Stats were originally incorrect, so we apologize for the press delay while the correct Stats were recalculated.
(Phoenix, AZ) Behind the third triple-double in school history, The Park University Gilbert women’s basketball team defeated Nelson University for the second time in consecutive gives 106-63 at the Scott Activity Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The Buccaneers up its record to 2-0 on the season.
Junior transfer Alynna Palacios posted the third triple double in school history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 11 steals. The 11 steals ties the record for the most steals in a game in school history. Coincidentally, the last time a player had 11 steals; the feat was accomplished in a triple-double at Nelson. Madison Chappell had a triple-double (14 pts, 12 reb, 11 stl) on December 4, 2021, at Nelson when it was known as SAGU-AIC. Last season, Jayla Reliford posted a triple-double in the Bucs home opener against Nelson with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
“She is a special player,” said Buccaneer head coach Ben York. “We are very fortunate to have her in our program and she’s only going to get better.”
The Buccaneers scored over 100 points for the second consecutive game after setting the school record for points on Thursday with 122. Park Gilbert did not shoot as well from the floor this evening but forced 52 Nelson turnovers with 37 steals and volume shooting to offset the subpar shooting night. Park attempted 104 shots on the evening with half of them (52) from three-point range.
Park Gilbert shot 38 percent from the floor after shooting 44 percent on Thursday and 29 percent from three-point range (38 percent on Thursday). The Bucs still made 15 three-point shots which would have broken the previous record of 14 set last season. The Bucs played 15 players in the game and 13 scored.
Park was strong on the offensive glass setting a school record with 35 offensive boards. The Buccos also bested the steals record (33) they set on Thursday with 37 steals for the game.
Individually, senior Savannah Huerta continues to flourish in the Bucs “Full Sail” system, posting her second consecutive 20-point game, pouring in 22 points on 9-17 shooting and 3-9 from long range. Junior Larken Hoaralso found the range with a career high 16 points, shooting 5-9 from the floor and 4-7 from three-point range. She was also 2-2 at the free throw line.
Five Buccaneers had five or more rebounds, led by Palacios with 12, Yuli Garcia with 8 and Kayla Schroeder with 7.
The team spread the wealth with assists as 11 different players had at least one assist but no one had more than three.
One thing the Buccaneers will want to clean up are their own miscues with the bal. They committed 28 turnovers in the game.
Park Gilbert now starts what might be the toughest stretch of games in the country this season as over the next seven games, they face a gauntlet of games facing four teams in the NAIA top-25 and two Division I teams. It starts with a matchup against No. 21 Rocky Mountain College in Billings Mont., on October 31 at 6 p.m. The next day they will face off with Montana State-Norther in Billings starting at 4 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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