The Olympians will travel to Santa Ana College on Wednesday, February 25, to face the Santa Ana College Dons in the 3C2A Regional Round 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Mesa enters the tournament as the No. 17 seed after finishing the regular season with a 15–13 overall record and a 7–5 mark in the PCAC. Santa Ana earned the No. 16 seed with an identical 15–13 overall record and a 3–9 conference finish.

The two programs are familiar with one another, having met earlier in December when the Olympians earned a 70–62 win. In that matchup, MJ Johnson led the team with 20 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Stevie Lundquist added 16 points, while Valerie Marquez recorded 12 points and 21 rebounds to anchor the effort.

Mesa enters the postseason with momentum, coming off back-to-back wins over Southwestern College (94–86) and on the road at Imperial Valley College (68–51). Despite dealing with minor injuries and the typical late-season fatigue, the Olympians are confident and prepared for the challenge ahead.

“Santa Ana College is a very well-rounded team with the ability to score from both the perimeter and the paint,” said head coach Careth Herron. “We need to focus on what makes us Mesa and prepare for a physical battle."

Santa Ana is led by sophomore forward Anaya Beard, who is shooting 59.7% from the field while averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Beard scored 23 points in the teams’ first meeting and will be a key focus defensively. 

With the postseason underway, records are reset and every team starts 0–0. The Olympians are ready for a fast, physical contest and are prepared to bring their best when they take the floor Wednesday night.