The Park University women's basketball team upped its record to 3-0 in conference play with a 84-68 win over La Sierra in Riverside, Calif., this evening. The Bucs move to 4-3 overall and drop the Eagles to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

The first half saw the Bucs dominate play but only hold a six point lead at the half. The Bucs shot 47 percent from the floor but were over 50 percent much of the half. A cold finish to the half allowed LSU to cut into what had been as big as an 14-point lead in the first half.

LSU was able to stay in the game via the long ball. Coming into the game, the Eagles had only made 19 three-pointers in five games, a 3.8 average. They made six first half three-pointers and also shot well from the free throw line making six of seven. Park on the other hand struggled from the line, not even making half of its nine first half attempts (4-9).

Kayla Schroeder led the first half with 10 points, Jenny Todd knocked down two three-pointers for six points and Jayla Reliford had nine.   

The third quarter saw the Bucs go on a 7-0 run to open the quarter, but once again the Eagles three-point shooting kept them in the game. Five more trifectas enabled LSU to win the quarter 25-24 and cut the deficit to five heading into the fourth. Schroeder and Todd had nine points each in the quarter, with Todd continuing her hot shooting, knocking down three more three-pointers.

Another 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter put the Bucs up by 12. But LSU had another answer of its own responding with a 5-1 run.

But this run would spell the end of the Eagles magic as the Bucs clamped down on the defensive and held them to just two more points the rest of the quarter. The Bucs would finish with a 10-2 run to end with a 16-point margin of victory.

Park held LSU without a three-point goal in the four quarter and almost matched them with 10 long range bombs themselves for the game.

For the game, the Buccaneers finished shooting 50 percent from the floor and a spectacular and efficient 59 percent (10-17) from beyond the arc. The Eagles 11 three-pointers equaled 58 percent of three-pointers they had made all season coming into the game.

Schroeder who needed 30 points to become the Buccaneers all-time leading scorer almost got there in this game, posting 27 points and missed a three-pointer at the buzzer as the shot clock ran out which would have put her over the top. Schroeder also led the team with five assists and she also grabbed five rebounds.

Not to be outdone, Todd set a career high for points with 17 and was perfect on three-point attempts going 5-5. Reliford added 16 points and four assists. Jazmyne Jenkins led the team with eight rebounds.

The Buccaneers now have a week off before a home non-conference contest with Goshen College on Thursday, December 14 at 12 p.m. Arizona time.