MANSFIELD, Texas – The St. Edward's women's golf team shot +31 (319) in the final round of the NCAA West Super Regional at Walnut Creek Country Club to finish second and earn its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship. This is also the third trip in four years for the Hilltoppers.

Entering the final day with a six-stroke lead over Tarleton State, the Hilltoppers struggled with the high winds and tough greens while Tarleton shot the low round of the tournament, 296, to overtake St. Edward's at the turn. "I am really proud of my girls for hanging in there today," said head coach Jennifer McNeil.  "We didn't have our best game, but I have to give all the credit to Tarleton. They played awesome today and deserved the win."

Dallas Baptist, which had been in fourth entering the final round, jumped up to catch CSU-East Bay, finishing third and earning the final team berth to the national championship which will be played May 14-17 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, North Carolina.

Tarleton's Isabell Jimenez Perea (75-78-71 = 224) and CSU-East Bay's Linda Brown (79-71-74 = 224) tied for the individual title, with St. Edward's senior ALYSSA SMITH (75-73-79 = 227) claiming the third spot, her best as a Hilltopper. "Alyssa had a great week of golf," said McNeil. "She is one of the hardest workers I've ever coached and I couldn't be happier for her success."

Junior TAYLOR MORENO earned a Top-10 spot as she finished tied for seventh (74-80-79 = 233), while senior RYANNE HADDOW finished tied for 11th (79-77-80 = 236). MARISSA BRANSBURG finished fourth for St. Edward's (78-81-84 = 243) to place her in a tie for 22nd while HALEY HAUGHT finished tied for 32nd (83-85-81 = 249).

The Hilltoppers begin play in North Carolina on May 14^th and hope to continue the trend of improving on their previous finishes.  St. Edward's placed fifth in their first national championship appearance in 2011 and claimed the fourth spot in last year's tournament at LPGA International in Florida.

A link to live scoring will be available on www.gohilltoppers.com.