The Park University Gilbert women's basketball team opened its 2025-26 season with a comfortable 93-45 win over Nelson University Arizona this evening at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.

The night opened with an impressive rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by 21-year old blind autistic clarinet phenom Joe Giacinto which pumped up the crowd and the team as he received a standing ovation.
  
With a new group of players all learning to play with each other and a coaching staff attempting to figure out the best rotations, play was a bit disjointed and turnovers were plentiful on both sides. The Bucs press forced 41 Nelson miscues and Park coughed up the orange 29 times, many of them unforced errors. A sign of first game jitters and pressing to impress.

The Buccaneers, who were second in the nation in three-point field goals per game a year ago, made 10 trifectas on the evening, but were not as efficient as they would have liked only shooting 29 percent.

Scoring was spread throughout the team, but the veteran leader of the Bucs, Hemani Kalia, led the way with a career high 26 points in 21 minutes. She nailed a career high six three-pointers, one better than her previous mark of five set twice last year against Life Pacific and the Master's.

Park spread the wealth tonight as all 19 players who suited up played, 17 of the 19 scored. Only Kalia played more than 20 minutes.

Yuli Garcia, taking the reins at point guard had a career high seven assists. Jacie Bunck led the team with six rebounds.

Alynna Palacios, the reigning GSAC Defender of the Year, showed why as she made four steals and was a disruptive force in the backcourt.

Point Loma transfer Allie Cummings was second on the team with 13 points and she nailed both three-point shots she took.

Junior transfer center Jelissa Julmist had seven points in her debut displaying some nice moves in the post.

Freshman Symirah Gray showed flashes of what made her one of the most successful players in Arizona last year as she posted seven points in her debut with four rebounds and two steals.

These two teams will tangle again on Saturday, October 25, this time in Phoenix, Ariz., at Nelson University. Game time is 5 p.m.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-          Park had 43 points off the bench and scored 40 points in the paint

-          The Bucs turned 41 turnovers into 30 points, while the Bucs minimized the damage on their 29 turnovers only allowing Nelson to score 11 points

-          Park scored 28 second chance points off of 22 rebounds.

-          Every single Park player was on the plus side of the +/- category.