Thursday night's home game witnessed a thrilling victory for the Redhawks Women's Basketball team as they defeated the UC Merced Bobcats with a final score of 59-51.
 
Alize Ruiz initiated the scoring for BenU by sinking two free throws, 2-4. Right after Nyah Henderson secured her first rebound of many, off a missed jumper by the Bobcats, 4-4. But then the Redhawks went down and trailed until the 6:42 mark when Maria Moore's efforts propelled them into their first lead. Despite Benedictine's run the Bobcats tied the game 15-15 in the last two minutes of the first quarter and finished the quarter ahead at 17-19.
 
The second quarter unfolded with the Bobcats extending their lead to 14 points at the highest, reaching 35-21. But Raenesha Willis narrowed the lead to 12, concluding the first half 23-35.
 
After halftime, the BenU women displayed a stronger performance, cutting the lead to 3 points (39-36) in the last three minutes of the third quarter. However, Merced pushed ahead, finishing the quarter up 40-48.
 
Entering the fourth quarter, Benedictine surged forward. The Redhawk women dominated in rebounds, securing 21 to Merced's 13, and showcased impressive defense. Mya Johnson's crucial 3-pointer with 2:47 left on the clock helped BenU reclaim the lead. The Redhawks battled fiercely, ultimately emerging victorious with a final score of 59-51.
 
Player Standouts:
•          Alize Ruiz delivered another outstanding performance with 21 points and 15 rebounds, marking her 9th double-double of the season.
•          Nyah Henderson achieved a career-high of 17 rebounds, contributing significantly with 4 points and 1 steal.
•          Maria Moore and Raenesha Willis both showcased their skills, scoring 11 points each with 6 rebounds.
 
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks Women's Basketball team will be back in action at home on Saturday, January 13th, at 4:00 PM at the Coyote Center. Fans can anticipate another thrilling match as the team continues their remarkable season.