NO. 13 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL EARNS WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN OVER NO. 17 SCOTTSDALE
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scottsdale Community College (15-8, 9-5) | 9 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 46 |
|
Mesa Community College (17-6, 11-3) | 23 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 64 |
Scottsdale Community College
| Game Statistics | Scottsdale Community College | Mesa Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (14-60) | (22-59) |
| Field Goal % | 23.3% | 37.3% |
| Rebounds | 33 | 42 |
| Assists | 5 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 20 | 16 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 11 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 10 | 13 |
| Pts in the Paint | 16 | 22 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 6 |
| Bench Pts | 9 | 16 |
No. 13 Mesa Community College Women's Basketball strengthened its postseason position on Saturday with a 64-46 victory over No. 17 Scottsdale Community College inside Theo Heap Gymnasium, earning a key tiebreaker in the NJCAA Region I Division II race.
Carmella Gallardo delivered a dominant first half performance, pouring in 25 points before the break to nearly outscore the Artichokes by herself. Mesa used that surge to build a commanding early lead, highlighted by a 23-9 first quarter advantage.
Scottsdale came out of halftime with urgency, holding Mesa scoreless for much of the third quarter while opening on a 7-0 run. The T-Birds did not score until the 5:36 mark of the period as the Artichokes attempted to chip away at the deficit. Despite the slow start, Mesa regrouped defensively and maintained control heading into the fourth.
Gallardo finished with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including five three-pointers, while Lakeisha Robinson added 15 points off the bench and Amya Bekele recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Mesa's defense held Scottsdale to just 23.3% shooting for the game, including only two made three-pointers while forcing 20 turnovers.
The win gives Mesa the season tiebreaker over Scottsdale and provides valuable breathing room in the Region I Division II standings. With just four conference games remaining, each result carries major implications as the T-Birds aim to secure home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
Mesa will look to continue its push on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when the T-Birds travel to face Glendale Community College.