Benedictine Mesa erased an early deficit and closed strong in the fourth quarter to claim a hard-fought 65–61 victory over OUAZ on Saturday afternoon.

First Quarter
Benedictine Mesa weathered an early push from OUAZ, which opened the game with back-to-back baskets. The Redhawks responded with strong rebounding and defense, forcing multiple tough shots while staying within striking distance. Free throws from Alexia Wilcox helped cut into the deficit, but OUAZ ended the quarter with a slight edge as Benedictine Mesa trailed 15–12 after one.

Second Quarter
The Redhawks found their rhythm in the second quarter, using ball movement and interior scoring to flip the momentum. Alannah Northam and Kira Nowell sparked the offense, combining for timely baskets that tied the game midway through the period.

Benedictine Mesa closed the half with a late surge, highlighted by a basket from Olivia Arvallo in the final seconds, sending the Redhawks into the locker room with a 28–26 halftime advantage.

Third Quarter
Benedictine Mesa came out of halftime aggressive, extending the lead early with hustle plays and second-chance points. Arvallo opened the quarter strong, scoring inside before knocking down a three-pointer later in the period.

Despite steady responses from OUAZ, the Redhawks stayed composed and continued to attack in transition and the paint. The quarter remained tightly contested, and OUAZ managed to regain a slim lead late, holding a 44–43 advantage entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter
The Redhawks wasted no time reclaiming control, opening the final period with free throws and forcing turnovers to regain the lead. Benedictine Mesa seized momentum midway through the quarter with key baskets from Shyla Moore and Olivia Arvallo, while Wilcox added critical free throws to stretch the lead.

Defensively, Benedictine Mesa locked in during the final minutes, capitalizing on steals and limiting second-chance opportunities. Naomi Elliott provided an inside finish late, and the Redhawks converted at the foul line to maintain separation.

OUAZ made a late push in the closing seconds, but Benedictine Mesa remained poised, closing the game at the free-throw line to seal the 65–61 win.

Key Players:

• Olivia Arvallo: 17 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound
• Alannah Northam: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists 
• Alexia Wilcox: 11 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds

Looking Ahead: The Redhawks are back on the court on Thursday, January 22^nd as they take on Life Pacific on the road.