After tonight's contest with Cal State University Maritime, the Park University Gilbert women's basketball team found themselves in a position they have not been in this season… above .500 in conference play. This was courtesy of a ??-?? win over the Keelhaulers in Vallejo, Calif. The Buccaneers are now 10-11 overall and 8-7 in conference play.
The win also places the Bucs in sixth place in the conference which would put them into the conference tournament. But with five games remaining, that position is tenuous at best with three of their next four games against teams they are battling with for the final spot. The Bucs have a road contest against Benedictine Mesa who they lead by a half a game, a home game with Embry Riddle and then a home at home series with Westcliff who is in fifth place in the standings.
Park Gilbert faced a stiffer test early in this contest than they did on Friday against Pacific Union. The Buccaneers still were able to put up 23 first quarter points, but only led by six at the first intermission. In the second quarter, Cal Maritime pulled even at 29 and 31-all and it looked as though the outcome of this game might be closer than expected considering Park won the first contest by 34. But the Buccos would go on a 21-5 run from that point to hold a 16-point halftime advantage.
Park would add to the lead in the third period, going on an 11-0 run after halftime. The Bucs would lead by as many as 32 in the quarter before the Keelhaulers would cut the advantage to 24 by the end of the stanza.
With 77 points after three quarters, the only questions left would be if the Bucs could score 100 points for the second game in a row and for the third time this season. A layup by Kiana Turenne with just under two minutes to go in the game would put the Bucs into triple digits for a school record third time in one season.
It was another record breaking performance for the Bucs as they re-broke some of the records they set on Friday. Against Pacific Union, the Bucs set the record for field goals made with 44 which obliterated the previous record of 34. They broke this record tonight with 45 made shots from the floor. Park made those 45 shots on 102 attempts which was also a school record, breaking the previous high of 93 set earlier this season against Cal Maritime. The Bucs also set a new school record with 29 offensive rebounds which broke the school record of 25 also set the last time the Bucs played Cal Maritime. Those 29 offensive boards turned into 35 second chance points which was needed on a night where the Bucs only shot 44 percent from the field. The Bucs also set a school record for fewest turnover with only five while turning the Keelhaulers over 29 times and turning that into 44 points.
The Bucs had six players in double figures led by Kayla Schroeder with 25 points seven rebounds and seven assists. Jazmyne Jenkins posted her second consecutive double-double and sixth of the season with 18 points (tying her career high) and 14 rebounds (her ninth game with double digit boards).
The Bucs now hit the stretch run of the season as every game will have meaning in their hopes of making the postseason for the second year in a row. It starts on Wednesday, February 8 on the road against Benedictine Mesa. A win would put the Bucs two clear in the loss column from the Redhawks. A loss would give BENU the season series and the tie-breaker in any tiebreak scenario.
