Kylie Herd (Photo be Jacob Dewald)
Kylie Herd (Photo be Jacob Dewald)

Women fall to Foothill (Calif), 57-52, at Scottsdale Tournament

  SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Unable to hold a late lead, the Mesa women dropped a 57-52 decision to Foothill (Calif) Tuesday on day two of the Bill Culver Memorial Classic at Scottsdale Community College.

  Mesa (8-4) led most of the first first half and a good portion of the second, but was unablle to score over the last 3:27.

  The T-Birds looked as though they might pull away in the opening 20 minutes, jumping ahead 22-11 when Brianna Clah (Fr., Chinle, AZ/Many Farms H.S.) canned a three-pointer with 6:20 left at the end of a 14-0 run. 

  The Owls, however, clawed back to within three at halftime, trailing, 28-25.

  MCC led for the first 12:08 of the second half, except for one brief tie, until Foothill jumped in front, 43-42 on a free throw by Breanna Salary.

  Quickly, however, Mesa took control again, 46-45 when Clah scored on a layup at the 6:22 mark.

  MCC stayed in front until 38.8 seconds remained when Salary completed a three-point play to put the Owls on top, 54-52. MCC turned the ball over twice and missed the front half of two one-and-one free throws in the final minute.

  Megan Gillespie (So., Phoenix, AZ/Arcadia H.S.) led the T-Birds in scoring with 11 points and had nine rebounds. Kylie Herd (So., Phoenix, AZ/Arcadia H.S.) had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds, and Destiny Wright (Fr., Tolleson, AZ/LaJoya H.S.) added eight points and six boards.

  Mesa finishes play in the tournament Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. taking on Division I Howard (Texas).