On Saturday afternoon, the Benedictine Mesa women's basketball team faced a tough challenge against Park Gilbert, ultimately falling 77-93 in a hard-fought game.
1st Quarter:
The first quarter showcased a fierce back-and-forth battle between the two teams. Park Gilbert took an early lead with a layup from Kayla Schroeder at the 9:44 mark, but Benedictine quickly answered with a jumper from Alize Ruiz, tying the game at 2-2. Schroeder responded with a three-pointer, assisted by Hemani Kalia, giving Park Gilbert a 5-2 advantage. The Redhawks' Xaria Culver narrowed the gap with a jumper, making it 5-4.
Benedictine's defense intensified, forcing a turnover that led to a three-pointer from Mya Johnson, putting the Redhawks ahead 7-5. Both teams continued to exchange baskets, with Kalia tying the game again at 7-7. A jumper from Naomi Elliot gave Benedictine a slight edge at 9-7, but Park Gilbert's Yuli Garcia quickly leveled the score at 9-9. Johnson then hit another clutch three-pointer, reclaiming the lead for the Redhawks at 12-9. After a pair of free throws from Schroeder cut the deficit to 12-11, the quarter ended in a deadlock at 16-16.
2nd Quarter:
The second quarter saw Park Gilbert gain momentum, with Benedictine trailing throughout. Early substitutions brought Olivia Arvallo and Alexia Wilcox into the game for the Redhawks. Savannah Huerta from Park Gilbert made an immediate impact, sinking two back-to-back three-pointers. Culver responded with a jumper to keep the game close, but Kalia added another three-pointer, extending the lead for Park Gilbert.
Wilcox provided a strong layup in the paint, but turnovers plagued Benedictine, allowing Park Gilbert to capitalize on fast breaks and efficient shooting. Despite key jumpers from Maria Moore and Elliot, Park Gilbert's shooting continued to excel, pushing their lead to double digits. A late jumper by Ruiz was not enough to close the gap, as Park Gilbert ended the half with a 42-30 lead after Johnson hit a three-pointer in the final seconds.
3rd Quarter:
Benedictine came out fighting in the third quarter, but Park Gilbert maintained their lead, heading into the final period at 63-52. After several substitutions, Nyah Henderson scored a quick layup to cut the deficit to ten. However, Park Gilbert answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Huerta and Kalia, extending their lead to 16.
Despite solid performances from Henderson and Moore at the free-throw line, Park Gilbert's perimeter shooting proved challenging to overcome. As the quarter progressed, Benedictine continued to show resilience, with late scores from Elliot, Ruiz, and Arvallo, reducing the deficit to 11 points before the quarter ended.
4th Quarter:
In the final quarter, Benedictine aimed to make a comeback, with Henderson scoring early to bring the score to 63-54. However, Park Gilbert's dominance in the paint from Schroeder and Palacios expanded their lead to 75-56 midway through the quarter.
Despite missed opportunities, the Redhawks remained determined. Moore executed critical plays to narrow the gap, but Park Gilbert maintained their momentum with Huerta's free throws and Kalia's late three-pointer solidifying their lead.
Benedictine's effort was commendable, highlighted by Arvallo's two late three-pointers that brought their final score to 77. However, Park Gilbert's offensive performance ultimately sealed the game.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks are set to return to the court on Thursday, February 20th, for their final home game of the regular season.
