MESA, Ariz. – The OUAZ women's basketball team dropped a 64-60 decision at Benedictine Mesa on Saturday evening and suffered their first loss of the season.
 
OUAZ (4-1) quickly found themselves down 8-0 and wouldn't take their first lead of the game until a 46-45 advantage with 1:00 to play in the third quarter. Benedictine Mesa (2-2) answered with a 15-4 run to build a 9-point cushion they never relinquished.
 
The Spirit were able to get the deficit back to 61-60 in the final minute, but they couldn't convert at the offensive end and the Redhawks made three of their four attempts at the line to secure a season split of the series.
 
Bailey Osmer provided much of the offense for OUAZ as she scored 22 points on a 9 of 16 shooting night. She would also get three steals and three rebounds.
 
The Spirit shot just 30.6 percent from the field and struggled from beyond the arc with two makes on 17 shots, including an 0 for 11 start. They held a 47-38 edge in rebounds with 18 offensive rebounds for 14 points. Mesa shot 41.4 percent and both teams committed 22 turnovers.
 
Jorie Mayfield provide 14 points and eight rebounds of the bench for the Spirit. Alexis Smith added 13 points.
 
The Redhawks got 21 points from Rebecca Herrera and 11 apiece from Brittany West and Juwanna Milton.
 
OUAZ will now get set for the start of Golden State Athletic Conference play with a pair of home games against national ranked opponents next week. They start against No. 14 The Master's on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School.