ODESSA, Texas – The St. Edward's Women's Basketball team got off to slow start against UT-Permian Basin before falling, 74-54, Saturday afternoon at the Falcon Dome.
 
UT-Permian Basin (12-8, 6-6 HC) got off to a picturesque start, as they took a 14-4 lead four minutes into the game. Five minutes into the game they would increase that lead to 15, as head coach J.J. Riehl was forced to call a timeout.
 
After another four minutes of action, St. Edward's (13-7, 7-5 HC) would find itself facing a 26-4 disadvantage, and were outrebounded 14-3 over the nine minute span.  The halftime score stood 44-21.
 
After a three-point play from LEXI FATHEREE to start the second half, a feeling that the Hilltoppers would make a run briefly drifted through the air at the Falcon Dome. However, after three missed layups, that thought was squashed, and the Falcons took a 25-point lead with 14 minutes left to play.
 
Permian Basin would cruise to a 20-point victory over St. Edward's, as the final score stood, 74-54.
 
Fatheree stood as the sole Hilltopper to reach double digit, scoring with 14 points.
 
"Coming into today I felt really good about our team. We had a couple really good days of preparation and felt as though we had a solid game plan. Unfortunately, UTPB was too tough today. We played soft on both ends of the floor and could never make a legitimate push to get back in the game," Riehl said.
 
St. Edward's will be back home next week as they look to even the Battle of the Saints score, in a pivotal game against St. Mary's.
 
"We have a very big week ahead of us so we have got to regroup and figure out how to get better starts, and how to get back on track," Riehl claimed.
 
Tipoff for the Battle of the Saints matchup is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday night at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live coverage can be found via the St. Edward's Athletic Website.
 
                                             Heartland           Overall
Team (Preseason)                 W-L                   W-L
UA Fort Smith (7)                   11-2                   13-7
St. Edward's (4)                       7-5                    13-7
UT-Permian Basin (8)             6-6                    12-8
St. Mary's (2)                            6-7                    12-9
TAMU-International (3)          6-7                   10-11
Newman (5)                             4-9                    7-14
Panhandle State (10)             1-11                   3-19
Lubbock Christian* (1)          11-1                   17-5
Oklahoma Christian* (6)         6-7                    9-12
Rogers State* (9)                     5-8                    7-14
* - Not eligible for HC Tournament due to NCAA Transition Year.
 
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
February 7
UTPB 74, SEU 54
OC 81, OPSU 66
LCU 60, NU 33
TAMIU 68, RSU 53
UAFS 72, STMU 48
 
February 12
OC at NU                                      5:30 PM
OPSU at RSU                                5:30 PM
STMU at SEU                               5:30 PM
LCU at UAFS                                 5:30 PM
TAMIU at UTPB                           5:30 PM
 
February 14
TAMIU at SEU                              1:00 PM
STMU at UTPB                             1:00 PM
LCU at RSU                                   1:00 PM
OPSU at UAFS                              1:00 PM