T-BIRD MOMENTS OF 2025-26: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RALLIES PAST SCOTTSDALE IN DOUBLE OVERTIME THRILLER
One of the most memorable moments of the 2025-26 season came on March 4 when the No. 2 seed Mesa Community College women's basketball team rallied from an 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat No. 3 Scottsdale 87-73 in double overtime in the NJCAA Region I Division II Semifinals.
After trailing 23-12 at the end of the first quarter and facing a 53-43 deficit entering the fourth, the Thunderbirds mounted a furious comeback. Mesa outscored Scottsdale 22-12 in the final quarter to force overtime before dominating the second extra period to secure a spot in the region championship game.
Lakeisha Robinson delivered several clutch plays throughout the contest, including a go-ahead layup in the final seconds of regulation and a game-saving block at the end of the first overtime to keep Mesa's season alive.
The Thunderbirds took control in the second overtime, outscoring the Artichokes 16-2 over the final five minutes. Carmella Gallardo sparked the decisive run with a pair of three-pointers, while Meisha Caserio scored six points during the stretch.
Gallardo led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. Robinson added 23 points, while Caserio finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Sydnee Patterson contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, Maddy Brown pulled down 12 rebounds, and Amya Bekele added six rebounds as the Thunderbirds advanced to the Region I Division II Championship game.
The dramatic double-overtime victory stands as one of the defining moments of the 2025-26 season and earned its place among the year's unforgettable T-Bird Moments.
Photo Credit: Matthew Lincoln
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