Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – MILEKA LOYDRAKE scored 18 points but the Hilltoppers fell short in a matchup against rival St. Mary's in another installment of the "Battle of the Saints" Saturday afternoon at the Recreation and Convocation Center. St. Edward's falls to 16-7 overall (11-6 Heartland Conference).
 
St. Mary's (17-8, 12-7 HC) jumped on the Hilltoppers early, taking a quick 10-3 lead through the first four minutes of play. CASEY RILEY stopped the St. Mary's run with five-straight points and helped St. Edward's get back into the game.
 
HALEY MEEKINS gave the Hilltoppers their first lead of the game after she converted two foul shots. After St, Mary's tied the game; ERIKA ROUSCULP scored a layup that began a 10-2 run that favored St. Edward's. The Hilltoppers were ahead 27-19 after the run with 4:40 remaining.
 
The Rattlers trimmed the lead to four points several times, but St. Edward's connected on 7-of-9 foul shots through the final five minutes of the first half and went into the break leading by nine, 38-29.
 
Riley helped maintain the nine point advantage with a layup to start the second half, but the Rattlers scored eight-consecutive points and cut the lead to just one point, 40-39 with 15:43 left to play. STEPHANIE DEKKERS swished three-consecutive buckets from downtown to help keep the Hilltoppers ahead.
 
JAIMIE KADLECEK got in on the three-point party and she drained a bucket from downtown from the top of the key to push the lead to five, 58-53 with eight minutes left in regulation. St. Mary's responded with eight-straight points and suddenly had a four-point edge over St. Edward's with just under five minutes left in action.
 
MILEKA LOYDRAKE and Dekkers both sank jumpers at the three-minute mark to tie the game for the seventh time, but that would be the closest St. Edward's would get. Another 8-0 run by the Rattlers all but sealed the 74-66 victory.
 
Dekkers contributed 16 points and added five assists to her conference-leading total. CASEY RILEY scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals. VALENCIA WHITE led the Hilltoppers with eight rebounds. Kat Brisbane and Loydrake both had seven rebounds apiece.
 
While St. Edward's suffered a loss, the Hilltopper community honored the six seniors who played their final home game at St. Edward's. The six seniors are: KELSEE BARR, KENDRA FIELD, VALENCIA WHITE, CASEY RILEY, ERIKA ROUSCULP, and STEPHANIE DEKKERS.
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action on Thursday as they travel to Odessa to take on UT-Permian Basin. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Falcon Dome on the UT-Permian Basin campus. Live video and stats will be available through the Falcon Athletic Website.