ESPANOLA, N.M. – On day one of a two-day, two-game series, both Park University Gilbert men's and women's basketball teams lost to Northern New Mexico College with the women falling 73-69, and the men, 88-66.
In the first game, the women kept up their tendency to start slow, trailing after the first quarter 20-13. They cut into the deficit by outscoring the Eagles in the second quarter 16-14 to trail by five at the half.
The second half was a tale of two quarters, the third quarter saw Northern New Mexico blister the Buccaneers 24-14 to take a commanding 58-43 lead. But as has been the case in many of their previous games, Park Gilbert made a fourth quarter comeback. The Bucs scored 26 points (they only scored 29 in the first half) to bring the final deficit to four.
"We can't keep putting ourselves behind the eight ball like that," said Buccaneers women's head coach Jeff Fore. "We have to find a way to put four quarters together, not just two."
Once again, Elise Young led all scorers with 25 points as she continues to set the Buccaneers freshman scorebook ablaze. Anna Laux tried to match her, scoring 21 points, including knocking down five three-pointers. Young and Jakaree Harris led the team with seven rebounds apiece.
In the men's game, The Bucs were able to get an early three point lead, but they were unable to maintain it and it was all Eagles late in the first half and into the second half as Northern New Mexico scored 50 points after the half to win comfortably by 22. This is the Eagles third straight win against the Bucs.
"We have to play better on the defensive side of the ball," said men's basketball coach Gordon Stubblefield. "If we do, this is a competitive game. I know we will come back tomorrow with a better effort."
Jabari Sutherland had 13 points to lead the Bucs in scoring as they had four players in double digits. Martin Simon corralled 10 of the Buccaneers 36 boards. Park Gilbert only managed to shoot 37 percent from the floor, while the Eagles, shot an incredible 59 percent. Those numbers tell the story of the game as all the other numbers were close to be being even.
Both men's and women's teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon as the Buccaneers attempt to get back in the win column. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.
