The Park University Gilbert women's basketball team got off on the right foot in its California Pacific Conference opener, beating the University of Antelope Valley 72-64 at Legacy Sports Park in Mesa, Ariz. The Buccaneers move to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Cal Pac. The Pioneers drop to 1-4, 0-1.

The Bucs won three out of the four quarters, and never trailed in the game. In the first quarter, six points from Kae Counce off the bench paced a 17-14 advantage. Six Bucs scored in the frame to provide balanced scoring as Park also won the battle of the boards in the quarter 9-6. The Buccaneers held a six-point lead before a three-point buzzer beater by UAV as the clock struck zero cut the lead to three heading into the second.

Park was able to add to its advantage by outscoring the Pioneers by four the second stanza. The Buccos built its lead as large as 12 before UAV was able to whittle it back to seven at the half. Seven different Buc players scored as no one scored more than three points in the quarter. Park shot 44 percent fpr the half, while holding UAV to 35 percent from the floor and 19 percent from three. 

The third quarter has not been the Buccaneers friend this season, and while they did not win the quarter, they only lost one point in its advantage over the Pioneers. UAV cut the lead to as little as two points with just under two minute to go, but Park was able to answer back and extend the lead back to six by the end of the quarter.

In the fourth, Antelope Valley was able to cut the lead to two points again with two minutes to go in the game. But Park was able to go 8-10 from the free throw line in the last two minutes with Kayla Schroeder going 6-6 from the charity stripe to seal an eight point win. 

Park Gilbert had four players in double figures scoring led by Schroeder with 16 points. Jayla Reliford had 11 and Mariana Cubero and Counce had 10 points each. Schroeder added 11 rebounds for a double-double and also led the team with four assists. Madison Chappell, making her first start of the season had a typical Chappell night, solid in every category with nine points and eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.  

Up next, Park Gilbert welcomes Embry Riddle to Legacy Sports Park on Tuesday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m.