Box Score Highlights
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Three Hilltoppers scored 14 points but it wasn't enough as St. Edward's three-game winning streak came to an end with a 75-58 loss to rival St. Mary's. The Hilltoppers fall to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in Heartland Conference play.
St. Mary's (12-2, 6-1 HC) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before
ERIKA ROUSCULP knocked down two foul shots two minutes into the game. The Rattlers extended their lead to 10-3 courtesy a 6-1 run.
MADDIE WHEELER drained a long-range shot from beyond the arc and Kat Brisbane scored a layup for the 5-0 run to cut the lead to 10-8.
Rousculp scored another layup and the score was 15-10 in favor of the Rattlers. Both defenses stiffened as both teams went on a scoring lull that lasted more than three minutes. Jackie Woods broke the drought with layup, and the Rattlers led 17-10 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
MILEKA LOYDRAKE, Brisbane, and Wheeler each scored two points during a 6-0 St. Edward's run cutting the lead to 17-16. St. Mary's again distanced itself with a 10-4 run, pushing the lead to 27-20. The Hilltoppers resiliency showed with a 7-2 run over a two minute span, cutting the Rattler lead to two points, 29-27. St. Edward's went into the half trailing, 33-29.
Rousculp and Loydrake hit mid-range jumpers to start the half. The Rattlers made several foul shots and a jumper and saw their lead increase to seven points, 40-33 with just under 18 minutes to play.
Much like the first half, St. Edwards responded with a run to close the gap, but couldn't seem to get over the hump. Again, it was Loydrake and Rousculp providing the scoring assistance, narrowing the Rattler lead to 40-37.
After St. Mary's went on a 6-3 run to have a six-point advantage, but St. Edward's clawed its way back into the game to knot the contest, 50-50, with 9:40 remaining. Unfortunately from this point until the end of the game, the Hilltoppers were outscored 25-8. St. Edward's would go onto to drop its first conference contest of the season to the Rattlers, 75-58.
Loydrake, Rousculp, and Wheeler all finished the game with 14 points. Rousculp led the way with seven boards, while Wheeler grabbed six rebounds, including three on the offensive end. Brisbane and
CASEY RILEY also contributed six rebounds.
STEPHANIE DEKKERS, the conference leader in assists, added six more for the season.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Laredo to take on Texas A&M–International. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building. Live video and stats will be available through the Dustdevil athletic website.
