Three strong quarters including a shut down second half led the fourth-seeded Park University Gilbert women's basketball team to a 75-51 win over fifth-seeded Simpson University in the quarterfinal round of the California Pacific Conference Tournament held at Cal State University Maritime in Vallejo, Calif.

"I thought we started well but got in a little bit of foul trouble in the second quarter which allowed them to get back in the game," said Park Gilbert head coach Jeff Fore. "We came out in the second half with more passion and energy.  We were really balanced offensively in the second half which made it really tough on Simpson."

The Buccaneers beat the Redhawks by seven at home earlier this season but felt as though they did not play anywhere close to the type of basketball they are used to playing. They came out tonight with a chance to show the type of team they really are.

The first quarter saw the Buccaneers come out strong and take an eight-point lead after the first stanza. Hayley Valencia scored seven points to lead charge and was followed by All-Cal Pac first team member Macy Markus with five. The Bucs applied full court pressure to speed up the Redhawks and it worked as they forced seven first quarter turnovers.

The second quarter saw Park Gilbert (16-9) get their hands caught in the cookie jar one too many times as they were called for eight fouls in the second which stunted its momentum offensively and Simpson (9-17) found the range from downtown, making four of six three-point baskets and shot 70% overall coming into the game. The Bucs only shot 36 percent in comparison and after holding an eight-point advantage after the first, found themselves trailing by one going into intermission.

Of late the Buccaneers have made the half time adjustments necessary to get wins in different situations and in different ways with different heroes. Tonight's second half was not different. The hero tonight was freshman point guard Jayla Reliford who was a steady presence running the offense, scoring when it was available, keeping her teammates involved and continuing to show her height means nothing when it comes to rebounding.

The Bucs came out with a look in their eye and a pep in their step that should have clued anyone watching this was not the same team which took the floor 20 game minutes earlier. The Buccaneers stepped up their game offensively and especially on the defensive end, holding Simpson to 17 second half points, while scoring 24 points in the third quarter by themselves. Park Gilbert had turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 16-point advantage heading into the final quarter.

The third quarter saw the Bucs hold the Redhawks to seven points on 2-11 shooting (18 percent) and one free throw. Meanwhile the Bucs did not miss from three-point range (2-2) and at the free throw line (10-10). Markus led the quarter with seven of the Bucs 24 points.

The final quarter was merely a formality as the Bucs poured it on in the fourth, outscoring the Redhawks by eight to make the final margin 24 points in a runaway victory for the Buccaneers.

Reliford led all scorers with 16 points (a career high) she also led the team with eight rebounds and four assists. Markus was next with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals, fellow All-Cal Pac first teamer Kayla Schroeder added 11 points and six boards. Jasmine Kelly came off the bench to pour in 13 points and six rebounds. She also led the team in steals with four.

As a team, the Buccaneers only shot 40 percent from the field which is not a great number, but the Buccaneers missed some easy looks and layups which if they go in the margin of victory is might have been closer to 40.

The Bucs forced 22 Redhawk turnovers and converted them into 23 points while only turning the ball over 10 times themselves. The Buccaneers were also opportunistic with their offensive rebounds. They had 13 offensive boards and turned those into 17 second chance points.

With the win tonight, the Buccaneers advance to face top-seeded UC-Merced in the semi-finals. The Bobcats went undefeated in the regular season, winning the Cal Pac North region with a 10-0 record. This will be the first time these two teams will meet. The game scheduled earlier this season between the two teams was cancelled due to health and safety protocols within the Merced program.