SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ women's basketball team opened Golden State Athletic Conference play on Thursday night with a 74-60 loss against 14th-ranked The Master's at Willow Canyon High School.
 
OUAZ (4-2, 0-1 GSAC) led the game 19-18 with 7:43 to play in the second quarter when The Master's (5-2, 1-0) went on a 17-4 run to close the period and take a 35-25 lead into halftime. The Mustangs then used a 21-11 run to start the third quarter to extend their lead to 20.
 
The Spirit put up a fight and got a combined 15 points from Bailey Osmer and Jorie Mayfield to trim the deficit to 66-58 with 2:11 to play, but they couldn't complete the comeback in part to missing their final four shot attempts.
 
In the game, OUAZ shot 29.4 percent from the field while making five 3-pointers at a 27.8 percent rate. Both teams committed 20 turnovers, but TMU scored 19 points from their forced turnovers against just eight points off turnovers for the Spirit.
 
The Masters' shot 35.8 percent and had a 56-41 edge in rebounds, including 19 offensive boards for 18 points.
 
Osmer led the Spirit with 16 points and eight rebounds. She made 5 of 19 overall and had three steals. Alexis Smith scored 15 points and Mayfield added 12.
 
OUAZ had little answer for Stephanie Soares as the Mustangs' leader went for 22 points and 19 rebounds.
 
Conference play will continue Saturday for the Spirit when they welcome No. 8 Westmont to Willow Canyon High School at noon.