Benedictine Mesa came out with energy and defensive tenacity on Saturday, controlling the early stages before cold shooting and second-half turnovers allowed visiting Embry-Riddle (AZ) to pull away for a 60–45 decision.
First Quarter
Benedictine Mesa wasted no time establishing its presence, holding Embry-Riddle scoreless for the opening two minutes while building a 5–0 lead behind a smooth jumper from
Shyla Moore and a mid-range finish from
Naomi Elliott.
Defensively, the Redhawks were locked in—
Alannah Northam grabbed early rebounds as the Redhawks controlled the glass and forced the Eagles into contested jumpers.
Though Embry-Riddle hit a pair of threes midway through the quarter to edge ahead, Benedictine Mesa answered immediately. Elliott sparked the response with a layup followed by a momentum-swinging three from the right wing, pulling the game even at 12–12. Arvallo's late free throw right before time expired sent the teams into the first break tied
13–13, an indicator of the competitive tone of the opening quarter.
Second Quarter
Benedictine Mesa opened the second period with another strong defensive stand, but several empty offensive trips allowed Embry-Riddle to slip ahead.
Olivia Arvallo knocked down a jumper to briefly restore a 15–13 Redhawk lead, but turnovers began to build, giving the Eagles additional possessions.
Still, the Redhawks continued battling. Northam, Moore, and Elliott each contributed key rebounds, while Benedictine Mesa forced multiple dead-ball stops. A layup from Elliott with 2:24 remaining trimmed the deficit to just three.
The Redhawks remained within striking distance at the half, trailing only
27–22 despite Embry-Riddle's late scoring push.
Third Quarter
The Redhawks opened the second half aggressively. Northam converted a layup seconds into the third quarter after a steal by Elliott, cutting the deficit to three. But Embry-Riddle responded with a string of perimeter shots and fast-break finishes to create separation.
Benedictine Mesa continued generating great looks—particularly for Arvallo and Northam in the paint—but shots rimmed out at critical moments. Elliott's jumper and a timely three midway through the period kept the Redhawks within reach, but turnovers prevented extended runs.
Despite defensive hustle from Moore and
Leanna Lepe, the Eagles carried a
40–31 advantage into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Redhawks continued to show fight in the final period. Elliott buried a mid-range jumper, and Moore attacked the rim for a pair of strong finishes as Benedictine Mesa chipped into the deficit. Northam added multiple defensive rebounds and attacked the paint relentlessly, earning trips to the free-throw line.
But every Redhawk surge was met with an answer from Embry-Riddle, who knocked down timely threes and capitalized on transition opportunities. Even so, Benedictine Mesa closed strong—Moreno drilled a late three from the top of the arc, and Arvallo added a final bucket as the Redhawks played through the final horn with energy.
The effort was undeniable, but Embry-Riddle's second-half shooting helped them secure the 60–45 win.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks secured their position in the GSAC Conference Tournament and look to take on Hope International on February 28
th on the road.
