Benedictine Mesa women's basketball battled for 40 minutes and held the lead for much of the contest, but a late Hope International surge resulted in a heartbreaking
59–58 loss.
First Quarter
The Redhawks weathered an early three-pointer by Hope International and quickly settled into rhythm behind
Shyla Moore and
Alannah Northam. Benedictine Mesa's defensive pressure forced turnovers and created second-chance opportunities, allowing the Redhawks to take control late in the quarter.
Northam connected from beyond the arc with under two minutes remaining to swing momentum, and Benedictine Mesa closed the period on a strong run to take a
20–15 lead after one.
Second Quarter
Benedictine Mesa continued to build its advantage in the second quarter, capitalizing on offensive rebounds and efficient ball movement.
Naomi Elliott and
Olivia Arvallo provided steady scoring, while Northam consistently attacked the basket, pushing the Redhawks' lead to as many as 11.
Hope International responded with timely three-pointers, but Benedictine Mesa maintained composure and defensive intensity to carry a
33–30 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
The Redhawks came out of the locker room firing, extending their lead behind strong shooting from Elliott and Arvallo. Northam added key baskets in transition, and Benedictine Mesa's defense limited clean looks as the lead grew to double digits.
Despite a few late Hope International scores, Benedictine Mesa remained in control, entering the fourth quarter with a
50–38 advantage.
Fourth Quarter
Hope International mounted a late comeback, forcing turnovers and converting key baskets to chip away at the lead. Benedictine Mesa continued to fight, answering with timely rebounds and defensive stops, but the Royals slowly closed the gap.
In the final minute, Benedictine Mesa briefly regained the lead at the free-throw line before Hope International responded with a layup to move ahead. The Redhawks had multiple chances in the closing seconds, including offensive rebounds and a final look at the buzzer, but were unable to convert.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks are back on the court on Saturday as they take on OUAZ on the road.
