PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Rocky Mountain College women's basketball team brought its trip to Arizona to a close with a 64-63 win over Arizona Christian in the final game of the Arizona Christian Classic III on Saturday afternoon.
 
Rocky (9-1) trailed 63-62 in the final moments when Brooke Jones collected a ball in the post and banked in a layup to but the Battlin' Bears ahead with 4.9 to play. Arizona Christian (9-2) called timeout to advance the ball, but couldn't get a shot off before time expired.
 
The game featured the NAIA leaders in scoring defense in Rocky against the scoring offense leader in Arizona Christian.
 
Brooke Jones final bucket gave her 20 points in the win. She made 9 of 16 shots and collected 10 rebounds – four offensive – for her first double-double of the season.
 
Rocky shot 48.1 percent from the field for the game after hitting on 62.5 percent in the first half. They had a 37-29 edge in rebounds and scored 30 points in the paint.
 
Hailee Farstveet added 12 points and three assists while Mikayla Jones scored 10 point with two steals.
 
Rocky limited ACU to 39.7 percent shooting for the game and forced 15 turnovers for 16 points.
 
The Battlin' Bears led for most of the first quarter and took a 24-18 lead after 10 minutes with a Mikayla Jones jumper at the buzzer. After the Firestorm came back to take a six-point lead early in the second quarter, Jones scored five straight points to help Rocky get within 41-40 at intermission.
 
Things would tighten up in the second half where Rocky held ACU to only 22 points and 26.5 percent shooting. The game would end with five ties and 15 lead changes.
 
Courtney Christmas led the Firestorm with 20 points and five blocked shots.
 
Rocky has three games remaining in 2017, including a trip to Missoula to face the University of Montana on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in an exhibition game for the Battlin' Bears. They are then home to host the Hampton Inn / Wells Fargo Green & Gold Classic on December 29-30 at the Fortin Center.