The Benedictine Mesa Redhawks delivered an impressive performance Monday evening, overwhelming Navajo Tech with a commanding 86-41 win.
1st Quarter: The Redhawks wasted no time taking control of the game, jumping out to an early lead.
Alize Ruiz opened the scoring with a layup just seconds into the game, followed by a smooth jumper from
Xaria Culver to make it 4-0. Ruiz continued to dominate in the paint, scoring back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to 9-0.
Benedictine's defense was equally tenacious, with steals from
Olivia Arvallo and
Alexis Emerson-Berryhill disrupting Navajo Tech's rhythm. Strong rebounding from Ruiz and sharp shooting from
Alexia Wilcox and Emerson-Berryhill pushed the lead to 15-2 midway through the quarter.
Although Navajo Tech managed a brief scoring run, including a three-pointer by Shannoah Planteno, Benedictine closed the quarter firmly in control with a 20-5 lead.
2nd Quarter: The Redhawks continued their dominance in the second quarter, fueled by relentless defense and smooth ball movement. Ruiz added a jumper early in the period, and Emerson-Berryhill came alive, scoring off fast breaks and capitalizing on turnovers. A steal and layup by Emerson-Berryhill at the 6:07 mark pushed the score to 26-8.
Despite moments of resistance from Navajo Tech, including a three-pointer by Jocee Henderson, Benedictine's efficient execution on both ends of the floor widened the gap. An assist by Ruiz to Emerson-Berryhill highlighted the Redhawks' teamwork, and by halftime, they held a commanding 39-16 lead.
3rd Quarter: Benedictine Mesa came out strong after the break, with
Nyah Henderson setting the tone by securing offensive rebounds and converting second-chance points. Emerson-Berryhill and
Naomi Elliot continued to fuel the Redhawks' offensive momentum, while Ruiz controlled the boards and added key baskets.
Navajo Tech struggled to keep pace, though they found occasional success through jumpers and a three-pointer. The Redhawks' depth proved decisive, with contributions from Elliot and Ruiz helping Benedictine close the quarter with a comfortable 66-31 lead.
4th Quarter:
In the final quarter, the Redhawks maintained their dominance while showcasing their depth. Early steals and layups by Arvallo and Culver extended the lead, while key plays from bench players kept the energy high. Culver's ability to capitalize on turnovers and offensive rebounds ensured Navajo Tech had no opportunity to mount a comeback.
Despite a few late baskets by Navajo Tech's Sarah Dennison and Shannoah Planteno, Benedictine Mesa's defense and unselfish play sealed the victory. A layup by
Angelique Moreno off an assist from Elliot capped off the Redhawks' efficient performance, securing an 86-41 win.
Key Performers:
Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks return to action on Thursday, January 30th, hosting Life Pacific at home.
