Surprise, Ariz.-- OUAZ Women's Basketball delivered a commanding performance Wednesday evening, rolling past Bethesda (CA) 96–44 inside Faith Arena. The win improves the Spirit to 12–10 on the season after controlling the contest from start to finish.
The Spirit wasted no time setting the tone, opening the game with a 29–10 first-quarter advantage before extending the lead to 56–16 at halftime. OUAZ maintained its defensive pressure throughout the second half, outscoring the Lion Angels in three of the four quarters while never allowing Bethesda to gain momentum.
OUAZ showcased its depth and efficiency, finishing with 38 made field goals and scoring 76 points off the bench. Tiana Sledge led all scorers with 18 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting performance while also contributing six rebounds. Payton Sheridan added 12 points, and Kyleigha Ongstad chipped in 11 points off the bench to round out a balanced offensive effort. Payton Nielsen and Kristen Valdez each scored 10 points, while the Spirit placed seven players in double figures overall.
Defensively, OUAZ dominated the glass with a 61–33 rebounding advantage and forced 36 turnovers, converting those opportunities into 45 points. The Spirit also controlled the paint, scoring 56 points inside while limiting Bethesda to 25.4 percent shooting from the field.
OUAZ will remain at home on Saturday, February 14, hosting GSAC foe Benedictine Mesa Redhawks with tipoff scheduled for noon.
