TUCSON, Ariz. – The desert air has not been kind to the Bismarck State College women's basketball team. On Friday, Mesa Community College defeated the Mystics 87-68 at the Bruce Fleck Classic. That game followed on the heels of a 74-52 loss to Pima Community College in a game that tipped off and ended late on Thursday night.

Mesa CC pulled away in the second half after leading 42-36 at halftime. Poor shooting hurt the Mystics, as they hit just 38 percent from the field and made only 2 of 19 3-point attempts. Ashton Kinnebrew led BSC with 22 points and a team-high six rebounds. She made 13 of 16 free throw attempts. Haley Gereau added 16 points and Sydney Gustvsson had 15. 

Against Pima CC, Kinnebrew scored 12 points to lead BSC. Gustavsson added 11 points, nine rebounmds and four steals and Rozalind Strong and Katherine Fox chipped in 10 points each. The Mystics were done in by poor shooting from the field, hitting just 26 percent for the game. They were 6-for-29 on 3-point attempts. Matheya Aberle led Pima with 18 points.

The Mystics close out their Arizona swing against Cochise College on New Year's eve. Then they are off until playing host to Northwest College Jan. 8 at the Armory.