Mesa Cannot Hold Off Late Vaqueras Charge, Fall 73-67

The defending ACCAC Champs came into Theo Heap Gym Saturday afternoon, November 21 and escaped with a six-point victory over the upstart Lady T'Birds.

CAC ran out to a 9-0 lead before Mesa got things going behind some gritty play from freshman Amber Bond and sophomore Prayer Branham. 

Bond would finish with ten points, four boards, and three blocks, while Branham scored nine, snagged three boards, picked one pocket, and dished out one.

Central would run out to a lead and Mesa (3-3, 1-1) would come fighting back throughout the entire game.  The last of seven ties in the game would be at 65 with 2:33 remaining.  Central would finish the night on an 8-2 run. 

Briana Benjamin had a tough night from the floor but made play after play for Mesa and finished with 14 and lead-scorer honors for Mesa.  She also had five rebounds and four assists. 

Callina Hurley chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds, one block, and one steal. 

Christina Buescher hit for ten, had six boards, five assists, but struggled from the floor. 

Central's defense was indicative of a team coming off an undefeated regular season and an ACCAC Championship.  Central has only lost three times in the last five years in the regular season (149-3). 

Mesa was painfully close to closing the door on Central (5-2, 2-0) but it was not to be.  Mesa was outrebounded by five and committed seven more turnovers.  Neither team shot particularly well from the floor and in the end it would be one last defensive stand from Central that proved to be the difference. 

The ladies get to regroup over the Thanksgiving week and return to action on Wednesday, December 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Chandler-Gilbert.