Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's women's basketball team opened the season with an 80-70 win over Hillsdale on Friday evening during the first day of the Calvin Townes Memorial Classic. ERIKA ROUSCULP led the Hilltoppers with her first double-double of the season tallying 21 points and 10 rebounds on the night.
 
Head Coach J.J. Riehl was pleased with Rousculp's performance, "Erika played great tonight! She played inspired basketball and we needed that effort from her. She has worked hard and I'm happy to see her successes helping with the team success."
 
The Hilltoppers trailed early in the first half until Rousculp scored four of her 21 points to give St. Edward's the 14-10 lead at the 13:32 mark. A layup by redshirt freshman PERI EWIN gave the Hilltoppers the 20-15 lead with just under 10-minutes remaining.
 
The Broncos fought back into the game and tied it at 29 with roughly three minutes remaining in the first half. Senior KELSEE BARR and Rousculp put St. Edward's right back on top with a three-point basket by Barr and four free throws by Rousculp. Erika scored the last eight points of the half and the Hilltoppers went into the break leading 41-32.
 
"I was really pleased with the total team effort tonight," stated Riehl. "We didn't play particularly well, but we did compete, play hard and stay together. Those are the little things, the intangibles, that we talk about daily and I was happy we had them today."
 
Those intangibles are what kept the Hilltoppers in the game to start the second half. After several missed opportunities to add to the lead, the team remained focused and slowly grew their lead. Newcomer KATHLEEN BRISBANE kept the lead at nine points. CASEY RILEY and HALEY MEEKINS knocked down numerous foul shots extending the lead to 13, the largest of the evening.
 
Much like the first half, the Broncos fought back and went on a 9-0 run and cut the lead to four points with just over four minutes left in the game. The Hilltoppers kept attacking and took advantage of their free throws. MADDIE WHEELER put St. Edward's back up by double digits with an "and one" with just over a minute remaining.
 
Senior point guard STEPHANIE DEKKERS iced the game sinking five foul shots, and the Hilltoppers start the 2013-14 season 1-0. Along with Rousculp's double-double performance, Dekkers finished the night with 17 points and four assists. HALEY MEEKINS made her presence felt with nine points and five rebounds in just 14 minutes of action. Brisbane and Riley both added eight points for St. Edward's.
 
Riehl concluded her statement, "Today is just what it is, one game, one win. We have a number of things to work on and improve on, but I'm confident we will get those things corrected and be ready tomorrow against a very good Texas A&M – Commerce team."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action tomorrow for the second day of the Calvin Townes Memorial Classic. St. Edward's will host Texas A&M – Commerce at 5:00 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center (RCC) on the St. Edward's campus. Live video and stats will be available through the Hilltopper athletic website.