Box Score LAREDO, Texas – MILEKA LOYDRAKE scored 25 points and was named the Heartland Conference Tournament MVP as the Hilltoppers defeated St. Mary's, 83-71 in the Heartland Conference Championship game. St. Edward's advances to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in school history.
 
Head coach J.J. Riehl commented after the victory, "Wow…I'm speechless. What a game. First, let's give St. Mary's some credit for the season they've had and how they played. They are a really tough team to defend with Jackie Woods on the outside and Morgan Pullins on the inside, but we found a way to get it done."
 
The Hilltoppers started the game off fast, taking a quick 6-0 lead through the first four minutes of the game. St. Mary's then went on an 8-2 run to give the game its first tie, 9-9 at the 13:54 mark.
 
It was back and forth for several minutes until the Rattlers opened up a seven-point lead, 19-12. The lead grew to 11 points at the 4:36 mark, but like during the semifinal game, St. Edward's never faltered or surrendered.
 
The Hilltoppers slowly chipped away at the lead thanks to patient offense and suffocating defense. KATHLEEN BRISBANE, STEPHANIE DEKKERS, and JAIMIE KADLECEK all got in on the scoring column with contributions on the offensive end. Dekkers swished a three to tie the game at the half, 35-35.
 
"I thought our full court defense was really good and proved to be the difference as it helped us create the pace that we wanted," said Riehl. "Our bigs were solid in every way, on the boards, defensively, and then running our offensive stuff. Kat was big offensively, she really stepped up."
 
St. Edward's took the early three-point lead to start the second half. ERIKA ROUSCULP converted on a three-point play. The Hilltoppers controlled the pace of play hanging on to a slim lead for the majority of the second half.
 
Dekkers knocked down another crucial three-point basket at the 11:12 mark to extend the lead to five points for St. Edward's. St. Mary's responded with a 7-0 run and took the two-point lead with 6:39 left. Kadlecek helped regain the lead with a three-pointer from the left wing.
 
Riehl commented on the play of Dekkers, "Steph just ran the show to perfection. She made things look so easy. She's our engine and she led us tonight. Our bench was unbelievable. As always they stepped up and played valuable minutes and were a difference maker."
 
Loydrake swished a jumper for the 66-62 lead with 3:40 left to play. The Rattlers went on a 5-1 run to tie the game with 56 seconds remaining. JAIMIE KADLECEK had a chance to win the game for St. Edward's with a baseline three but it didn't fall.
 
St. Edward's jumped on the Rattlers in the extra five-minute segment and never looked back. The Hilltoppers scored six-straight points in the opening minute. Dekkers, again,  knocked down another three-pointer and the Hilltoppers were up, 77-69. A slew of free throws sealed the 12-point victory and the championship for the Hilltoppers.
 
Riehl closed her statement, "I'm just so happy for our kids, our athletic department, and our alumni. This moment is something we've waited for a long time and I'm happy for all the Hilltopper basketball family. This is a special team, it's only fitting that they are the ones to rewrite the history book at St. Edward's. Their commitment to doing things our way has never wavered and that's the reason we are champions today. This is a proud moment for not just J.J. the coach, but J.J. the alumna."
 
With the victory, the Hilltoppers qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA selection show is tomorrow at 19 p.m. CST and that's when St. Edward's will find out whom there next opponent will be. Stay tuned to GoHilltoppers.com for more information.