Box Score

Post Game Interview (J.J. Riehl)

AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's women's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak end on Saturday afternoon as a hot-shooting Abilene Christian squad bested the Hilltoppers, 67-58, at the Recreation and Convocation Center. It was the team's final tune-up before heading back to Heartland Conference play to start the spring semester.
 
Abilene Christian (7-2) started the game off hot from behind the arc as they canned four treys in the first seven minutes of action to take a 15-8 advantage over St. Edward's (8-4). Mackenzie Lankford led the way with five points during the stretch, which included a fast-break layup to cap off the run with 12:13 remaining in the opening period.
 
The Wildcats continued to stay hot from outside as they nailed two more shots from downtown to help jump out to its largest lead of the game, 27-12, with 7:29 on the clock before halftime.
 
The Hilltoppers then would get a much-needed lift off of the bench from ERIKA ROUSCULP as the sophomore would score all 11 of her first half points down the stretch to cut the Wildcat lead to 34-27 at intermission. Rousculp almost had a double-double in just the first half with seven rebounds to go along with her scoring.
 
In the second half, both teams would trade buckets in the first seven minutes when a three-point play by Abilene Christian's Whitney West gave the Wildcats a nine-point advantage, 46-37, with 13:04 remaining in the game.
 
Rousculp then came up big for the Hilltoppers once again, scoring six points, including the final two buckets, as St. Edward's tallied the next 11 points for its first lead of the game, 48-46, with 8:58 on the clock. CASEY RILEY hit a jumper and STEPHANIE DEKKERS had a trey and two assists during the run. VALENCIA WHITE was also key with two assists of her own.
 
Layups by White and KENDRA FIELD kept the Hilltoppers in front by two with just under six minutes remaining. However, St. Edward's would go cold from the field for the rest of the game, making only one shot from the floor down the stretch.
 
Besides a three-pointer by Savannah Smith with 5:30 remaining, Abilene Christian would also be silent from the field the rest of the game. The only problem was that they would be perfect from the free-throw line, making 12-of-12 in the final five minutes.
 
St. Edward's did have a chance late after two free throws from Rousculp cut the Wildcat lead to 61-58, with 1:31 remaining, but St. Edward's missed its final four shots and Abilene Christian sealed the win with six free throws.
 
Rousculp notched her third double-double in her last five games with a team-high 19 points and 14 rebounds. Dekkers led the team with six assists, while also scoring eight points of her own. DAWN KIEL added nine points and had a game-high four steals.
 
Lankford and Renata Marquez both had 14 points for the Wildcats, while Kynzie Newman tallied 10 points.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they host Heartland Conference newcomer McMurry in a non-conference contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live Video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.