PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Rocky Mountain College women's basketball team fought through a tough shooting night to pick up a 64-53 win over Benedictine Mesa on Friday evening in the opening game of the Arizona Christian Classic.
 
Rocky (8-1) only scored on 34.8 percent of their field goal attempts while making 5 of 24 from beyond the arc. The Battlin' Bears took advantage of 34 points in the paint and 19 points from 17 offensive rebounds.
 
Justyn Juhl helped Rocky build the early advantage with 12 of her 17 points in the first half. She finished the game 7 of 10 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and seven rebounds.
 
The Battlin' Bears limited Benedictine (5-5) to 38.6 percent and they had a 48-37 advantage in rebounds. Benedictine turned it over 23 times for 17 Rocky points.
 
Mikayla Jones added 17 points and hit three from deep for the Battlin' Bears. Brooke Jones had 12 points and seven rebounds. Markaela Francis led the team with 11 rebounds – six offensive – and Hailee Farstveet led the way with five assists.
 
Rocky scored 16 points in each of the four quarters and they led by 20 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Kaelin Shaffer led the Redhawks with 14 points.
 
The Battin' Bears close out their 3-game weekend in Arizona on Saturday when they face Arizona Christian at 2 p.m.