Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – ERIKA ROUSCULP led the Hilltoppers with a double-double as St. Edward's bested the first-place TAMU-International Dustdevils, 81-74 on Thursday night at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Rousculp scored 20 points on grabbed 13 rebounds to help secure the victory.
 
Head coach J.J. Riehl commented after the victory, "I couldn't be more proud of the girls. The resolve and fight they showed tonight in the face of adversity leaves me at a loss for words. Tonight was a team win. It was about us living up to our expectations. Tonight we held onto our ROPE, and all 17 of us never let go."
 
CASEY RILEY got things started for the Hilltoppers scoring the first bucket of the game. Rousculp followed with two layups and St. Edward's took the early 6-4 lead. The Dustdevils then went on a 12-4 run to take an eight-point advantage with 12:42 left to play.
 
After a quick bucket by Rousculp, TAMU-International pushed its lead to 12 points, 24-12, with 6:16 remaining in the first half. The Hilltoppers answered with an 11-0 run. Rousculp led St. Edward's with six points, while MILEKA LOYDRAKE and Kat Brisbane chipped in a combined five points.
 
Freshman PERI EWIN scored eight consecutive points and gave the Hilltoppers their first lead since the opening minutes, 31-30, with just over a minute to play. Samantha Chacon scored a layup with three seconds left in the first half to give TAMU-International the 32-31 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, both squads traded baskets for the first two minutes of play, before the Dustdevils opened up at eight-point lead with 16 minutes to play. Loydrake drained a long-range bucket to cut into the lead. STEPHANIE DEKKERS also got in on the scoring act and the Hilltoppers were only down 49-43, with 12:22 left to play.
 
CASEY RILEY and Dekkers swished back-to-back three pointers to give the Hilltoppers some positive momentum. VALENCIA WHITE and Dekkers both made consecutive layups and St. Edward's tied the once eight-point deficit.
 
The Hilltoppers didn't look back from that point on. The combination of sharp shooting and tough defense gave St. Edward's a nine-point lead, 65-56, with 4:28 remaining. Loydrake scored seven-consecutive points during the run.
 
Riley and White gave St. Edward's their biggest lead 74-61 with just over two minutes to play. TAMU-International gave one last effort to extend the game, but Rousculp and White made crucial free throws down the stretch to secure the 81-74 victory.
 
Loydrake finished the game with 17 points and two steals. CASEY RILEY chipped in 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. VALENCIA WHITE and PERI EWIN contributed 10 and eight points respectively off the bench.
 
"Tonight was one of those nights that as a coach you sit back and watch your players give everything they've got with smiles on their faces and you have nothing but pride for the way they've represented themselves and St. Edward's," said Riehl. "Tonight is all about them; their determination, commitment to success, and each other."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action on Saturday to take on rival St. Mary's. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center on the St. Edward's campus. Saturday will be Homecoming and Senior Day on the Hilltop. Live video and stats will be available through the Hilltopper Athletic Website.