Mariah Willadsen came off the bench to score a game high of 23 points for Mesa.
The two teams went back-and-forth in a competitive first half that ended with Mesa holding a three-point advantage, 32-29.
The Lady T-Birds extended their lead to eight early in the second half, but SPC cut their deficit to one, 46-45, with 8:40 remaining in the game.
A 6-0 scoring run over the next two minutes by the Lady T-Birds put the Lady Texans in a seven-point hole but, again, they would fight to get back into the game.
Trailing by nine with five minutes to play, a 3-pointer by Moore was followed by baskets from Dawn and IJ Nzekwe, cutting Mesa's lead to only two, 57-55.
Mesa would go on to score the final points of the game as the Lady Texans fell to 5-7 on the season.
South Plains will return to action at 12 p.m. Monday when they face Madison Area College on day two of the Bill Culver Classic. The Lady Texans will play their final non-conference game of the season when they face Scottsdale at 1 p.m. MST Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The Lady Texans will resume conference play when they host Howard College at 5:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6.
South Plains (5-7)
Alexius Dawn 5-16 1-3 12, Desiree Cruz 1-1 0-0 2, Tasheena Moore 4-15 1-2 12, Briana Brigham 1-6 0-0 2, Ijeoma Nzekwe 3-6 1-2 7, Jasmine Brainard 7-9 2-6 16, Rafeegah Fataar 2-5 0-0 4, Rayvon Christian 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-59 5-13 55
Mesa CC (8-2)
Leslie Tademy 2-4 3-4 8, Didi Moloi 0-1 0-0 0, Mariah Willadsen 10-18 3-3 23, Erica Vasquez 1-2 0-0 2, Darla Woody 0-1 0-0 0, Peace Amukamara 3-11 2-2 10, Megan Gillespie 2-4 0-0 4, Madi Austin 2-9 1-2 5, Kylie Herd 3-10 2-7 8, Yasmine Woodard 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 24-63 11-18 62
|
SCORE BY PERIODS |
1st |
2nd |
TOTAL |
|
South Plains |
29 |
26 |
55 |
|
Mesa CC |
32 |
30 |
62 |
FG%: South Plains .390, Mesa CC .381. 3-pt FG:South Plains 4-18 (Dawn 1-5, Moore 3-9, Brigham 0-4), Mesa CC 3-11 (Tademy 1-3, Amukamara 2-5, Austin 0-3). Rebounds: South Plains 35 (Brainard 11), Mesa CC 38 (Amukamara 10). Fouls South Plains 17, Mesa CC 11. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: South Plains 8 (Dawn 4), Mesa CC 10 (Austin 3). Steals: South Plains 5 (Moore 1, Brigham 1, Nzekwe 1, Fataar 1, Christian 1), Mesa CC 4 (Amukamara 2). Blocked shots: South Plains 1 (Nzekwe 1), Mesa CC 7 (Austin 3). Turnovers: South Plains 18, Mesa CC 10.