AUSTIN, Texas. – St. Edward's women's basketball forced 17 Lubbock Christian turnovers Thursday as the Hilltoppers took down the defending national champions 58-50.
 
SHAKERA BARNES led SEU in scoring with 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. ABBY HOPPER and LEXI FATHEREE also scored in double digits with 14 and 12, respectively. SAUNDRA GUILLORY led St. Edward's on the boards with seven rebounds and stifling defense.
 
St. Edward's (11-6, 7-1 Heartland) remains in first place in the Heartland Conference standings with a half-game edge over St. Mary's. Lubbock Christian (9-8, 4-2 Heartland) falls to fourth place in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hopper scored the first two baskets of the game to give SEU an early 4-0 lead.
• A 6-2 run from the Lady Chaps gave the visitors a 9-8 lead with 5:27 to play in the first quarter.
• The Hilltoppers responded with nine first-quarter points from Hopper and 46 percent shooting from the floor to take an 18-12 lead into the second quarter.
• St. Edward's shooting improved in the second period as it went 6-for-12 from the field, extending its lead to 30-21 at the half.
• Lubbock Christian stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Hilltoppers 15-10.
• Early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Chaps took a 43-40 lead, but it wouldn't last long.
• Barnes drained a jumper and two free throws to retake the lead, 44-43.
• A 3-pointer from Hopper with 5:49 to play was the turning point in the game.
• St. Edward's outscored Lubbock Christian 11-7 down the stretch to clinch the win.

 
HILLTOPPER NOTES

• The Hilltoppers last win against Lubbock Christian was on Dec. 1, 1995.
• Thurday's win snaps a seven-game losing streak against the Lady Chaps. St. Edward's is now 5-7 all-time versus LCU.
• Barnes is averaging 18 points per game in her last three contests.
• Hopper's 14 points are a season high.

 
QUOTE BOARD: HEAD COACH J.J. RIEHL
"Lubbock Christian doesn't make it easy for you. They're a great team. They make you work, and nothing but respect for the game they gave us today. We had to fight and claw and scratch to pull that out. I'm really proud of the kids. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, momentum was totally on LCU's side, and you didn't know which way it was going to go. We kicked in defensively, made some shots, and were able to pull out a hard-fought win."
 
UP NEXT
St. Edward's gets the weekend off before hosting Panhandle State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26. Tickets will be available at the door. Live stats and video will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: St. Edward's 58, Lubbock Christian 50
Records: St. Edward's (11-6, 7-1 Heartland), Lubbock Christian (9-8, 4-2 Heartland)
Leading Scorers: St. Edward's-Barnes (17), Lubbock Christian-Bruffey (19)
Attendance: 238
 
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Team                       Conference                Overall
St. Edward's             7-1                              11-6
St. Mary's                  6-1                              14-3
UA Fort Smith           5-2                              10-8
Lubbock Christian     4-2                              9-8
Oklahoma Christian  4-3                              9-10
Newman                    3-3                             13-5
Rogers State             1-6                              5-12
TAMU-International  1-6                              1-16
Panhandle State       0-7                              1-14
 
 
For the latest information on the St. Edward's University Women's Basketball team, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @SEUWBasketball, or visit us at www.GoHilltoppers.com.