Box Score

KINGSVILLE, Texas – ERIKA ROUSCULP recorded her third double-double as she paved the way for the Hilltoppers to their fourth-straight victory defeating TAMU-Kingsville, 66-50 on Sunday afternoon. Rousculp finished the afternoon with a game high 17 points and 16 rebounds.
 
“Erika was great,” Head Coach J.J. Riehl said after the game. “Her double-double today was well deserved. She did a great job setting the tone and controlling the paint.”
 
St. Edward's (7-3) started quick with a bucket by MONICA JAMES just 11 seconds into the contest with MADDIE WHEELER assisting on the basket.  The Hilltoppers wouldn't score again until the 16:22 mark after STEPHANIE DEKKERS made two free throws to tie the game at 4.
 
TAMU-Kingsville (3-5) took and held the lead until the 4:43 mark of the half. At that time DAWN KIEL drove baseline and scored a lay-up. The Javelinas quickly responded to regain their one-point advantage. Kiel's aggressiveness allowed her to get to the free-throw line where she has been great all year. She made four from the charity strip and drained a shot from behind the arc for a six-point Hilltopper advantage with 2:25 remaining.
 
St. Edward's went into the half with a 22-17 advantage. Both teams struggled during the first half to find the basket and neither team could take advantage of the poor shooting of the opposition. The Hilltoppers shot 30.4%, while the Javelinas only made 22.6% of their shots.
 
TAMU-Kingsville opened the second half of play on a 5-0 run to tie the game, 22-22, at the 16:55 mark. Wheeler responded with a three-point basket to give the Hilltoppers the advantage. The Hilltoppers and Javelinas traded buckets until SARAH KENDRICK and Rousculp scored four quick points to elevate the St. Edward's lead to seven points with 13:17 remaining.
 
The Javelinas again cut the lead to two points, but a KELSEE BARR lay-up and a three-point play by Rousculp lifted the lead back to seven points with 10:17 remaining. TAMU-Kingsville scored six straight points to cut the score to 38-37 with 8:24 remaining. Nine seconds later Kiel swished a trey that started a run that eventually seal the game.
 
Rousculp, Wheeler, Dekkers, and Kiel all contributed during the run to extend the Hilltopper lead to as high as 18 points.
 
Kiel finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds, while Wheeler contributed 14 points and five rebounds. Dekkers distributed the ball well accounting for eight assists. She also finished with eight points.
 
Head Coach J.J. Riehl commented after the game, “Obviously, I am very pleased with outcome of today's game. The first half wasn't pretty, having 11 days off between games and finals week took its toll on the team and I think you saw that in the first half. However, the girls responded and came out ready to go in the second half. I'm proud of them and we will enjoy the moment.”
 
Riehl was pleased by the performance of her point guard STEPHANIE DEKKERS, “Stephanie is doing a great job running the team. She is a coach on the floor and her leadership between the lines is really key for our team.”
 
The Hilltoppers return home on Wednesday for a rematch against TAMU-Kingsville. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm at the Recreational Convocation Center (RCC) on the St. Edward's campus. Live video and stats will be available through the Hilltopper website.