It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The Park University Gilbert women's basketball game against Life Pacific University showcased the best of what Park Gilbert has to offer, but also showed what can happen when things are slightly off. A second half shooting spree propelled the Bucs to a 70-65 win over the Warriors and snapped the Bucs three-game losing skid.
In addition to picking up the win on the Bucs senior day, senior Kayla Schroeder surpassed 1,500 points for her all-America career. She came into the game needing 12 points to surpass the mark and finished with a team leading 19 points.
The first half saw the Buccos shooting woes continue as they only made seven shots from the floor for the second consecutive half dating back to the game versus Hope International and for the third time over the past two weeks. In response to the poor shooting from the previous games, Buccaneers skipper Ben York returned to playing the way he would prefer to play, with wholesale substitutions and high pressure defense. All 16 players who suited up today for the Bucs saw minutes. While it didn't bear fruit in the first half; the Bucs shot 21 percent from the floor and trailed 30-24. The second half, however, made for a tale of two halves.
 The Bucs shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half and knocked down seven three-pointers to finish the day with 12 made threes. This is the 12th time this season the Bucs have made 12 or more threes in a game. Park Gilbert is 8-4 in games where they make 12 or more threes this season and 3-4 when they don't.
Park Gilbert outscored Life 22-12 in the third quarter to turn a six-point deficit into a four-point lead. The Bucs would lead by 12 points with 2:32 remaining the fourth quarter, but LPU would go on a 9-0 run to cut it two three with a minute to go. Park would miss a three and two free throws which would ice the game away but was able to force a turnover and Schroeder made her two free throws to seal the win with less than five second to play.
In addition to Schroeder's 19, senior Savannah Huerta had 17, senior Arianna Reyes had three assists and senior Andraya Dimas who got her first career start made the most of it with five rebounds, two steals and two blocks to go along with four points. Â
Alynna Palacios led the team with seven rebounds, three assists and also had two steals.
As a team, the Bucs took care of the ball with only 14 turnovers, while forcing 23 Warrior miscues and converting them into 27 points.
The Bucs take to the road for two key contest at the Master's and Embry Riddle as they attempt to make the GSAC tournament at the end of the season for the top-four teams in the league. Right now, the Bucs are in a tie for third with Benedictine Mesa, but the Redhawks currently hold the tie break advantage with a win over the Bucs last week.
