SMCC Women's Basketball Falls to Benedictine-Mesa (JV) in Season Opener

PHOENIX ---

Freshman Tyra Holyan scored 14 points and sophomore Sadie Gardner and freshman Ramona Gregg each added 10, but the South Mountain Community College women's basketball team lost 55-42 to the Benedictine-Mesa (JV) Redhawks in the Cougars' 2025-26 season opener. 

The Cougars led 14-13 after the end of the first quarter, but the Redhawks rallied to take the second quarter and a 25-20 lead into halftime. Benedictine-Mesa took the third quarter and held off an SMCC rally in the fourth to earn the victory. 

SMCC finished 14 of 49 from the field (28.6 percent) and 14 of 17 (82.9 percent) from the free-throw line. The Cougars also totaled 35 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and 17 steals. 

Holyan scored 12 of her 14 points after halftime and finished 5 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes. She added seven rebounds, one block, and one steal. 

Gardner posted three field goals, three rebounds, two assists, and five steals in 35 minutes. Gregg led SMCC with nine rebounds and seven steals, adding an assist and a block in 36 minutes. 

Freshman Genesis Rios posted six points off the bench for SMCC, adding a rebound, an assist, and a steal in 17 minutes. Freshman Victoria Benito had two points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 24 minutes, and freshman Kashari Bullard had three rebounds off the bench.