The Benedictine Mesa Women's Basketball team battled hard but fell short against Embry-Riddle (AZ) on Wednesday night, 66-45. Despite a strong effort, the Redhawks struggled to overcome an early deficit.

1st Quarter
Benedictine Mesa got off to a promising start as Maria Moore sank back-to-back jumpers to give the Redhawks an early 4-0 lead. However, Embry-Riddle quickly responded with a run of their own, fueled by outside shooting. Alize Ruiz added a jumper to keep Benedictine in the fight, but the Eagles capitalized on turnovers and extended their lead. By the end of the quarter, the Redhawks faced a 25-7 deficit.

2nd Quarter
Benedictine Mesa fought to regain momentum, with Naomi Elliott breaking through with a jumper. Maria Moore and Alize Ruiz continued to battle in the paint, adding key baskets, but Embry-Riddle's defensive pressure made scoring difficult. Despite late efforts from the Redhawks, the Eagles maintained control heading into halftime.

3rd Quarter
The Redhawks came out strong after the break, with Mya Johnson draining a deep three-pointer off an assist from Ruiz. Moore followed up with a jumper and a tough layup inside, keeping Benedictine within reach. Defensively, Nyah Henderson, Johnson, and Ruiz grabbed key rebounds to limit second-chance opportunities, but Embry-Riddle continued to find answers from beyond the arc. The Redhawks ended the quarter trailing 52-32.

4th Quarter
Benedictine Mesa continued to fight in the final period, with Xaria Culver turning a steal into a fast-break layup. Henderson and Moore added baskets to cut into the deficit, but Embry-Riddle's outside shooting remained strong. Olivia Arvallo knocked down a three-pointer late in the game, but the Redhawks couldn't complete the comeback as the Eagles secured the 66-45 win.

Key Players

• Maria Moore: 14 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 steal
• Alize Ruiz: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Mya Johnson: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Looking Ahead
The Redhawks are back in action on Saturday, February 8, as they hit the road to take on The Master's.