In a competitive match on Saturday afternoon, the Benedictine Mesa Women's Basketball Team faced off against The Master's, ultimately falling with a final score of 58-70.
1st Quarter:
The game began with The Master's gaining an early advantage, as Lexi Hernandez scored a layup with an assist from Chloe Auble. Benedictine quickly responded, with Mya Johnson tying the game with her own layup, assisted by Xaria Culver. The teams exchanged baskets, with Marin Lenz giving The Master's a brief lead at 4-2. Alize Ruiz then tied the game again with a jump shot. However, both teams struggled offensively, marked by missed shots and turnovers. Hernandez's layup provided The Master's a momentary edge, but a three-pointer from Olivia Arvallo swung the momentum back to Benedictine. The quarter concluded tightly contested, with The Master's leading 14-11 after a late layup by Lenz.
2nd Quarter:
The second quarter kicked off with a thrilling exchange of plays. After a missed jumper by Marin Lenz, Naomi Elliot scored a layup, putting Benedictine ahead. The back-and-forth continued, with Lexi Hernandez tying the game, but Alexia Wilcox responded with a layup for Benedictine, giving them an 18-16 lead. Despite several turnovers, Alize Ruiz stepped up with key baskets, extending the lead to 22-16. The Master's fought back, but Benedictine maintained composure, with contributions from Xaria Culver and Maria Moore. The team built a significant gap, leading 28-19, before The Master's narrowed the score to 28-25, showcasing the resilience and teamwork of the Redhawks.
3rd Quarter:
The intense match continued into the third quarter, where the energy was palpable. Alli Vankooten scored early for The Master's, but Alexia Wilcox quickly countered with back-to-back layups, pushing Benedictine ahead 32-29. Alize Ruiz remained a key player, contributing multiple layups and assists. After a timeout, Benedictine's lead grew to 40-31, courtesy of a layup by Nyah Henderson. The Master's rallied with free throws from Vankooten, but Benedictine held on, ending the quarter up 47-42.
4th Quarter:
The final quarter saw Kelly Mathiesen enter for Benedictine, bringing fresh energy. However, The Master's quickly capitalized on early fouls. Despite a missed free throw by Vankooten, The Master's secured a rebound. Benedictine fought back with a layup from Mathiesen, narrowing the gap to 44-47. Nyah Henderson shined with multiple baskets and crucial free throws, pushing the score to 49-44. Yet, The Master's quickly responded, regaining the lead with several layups, including one from Lexi Hernandez. The game continued to swing back and forth, with Xaria Culver tying the game at 54 with a clutch layup. Unfortunately, The Master's began to pull away in the final minutes, sealing the game with a score of 70-58.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks are set to return to action on Wednesday, February 12, as they take on OUAZ on the road.
