Box Score Box Score

THE RUNDOWN
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Five Hilltoppers scored in double figures and St. Edward's (8-7, 2-1) held off a fourth-quarter rally from Oklahoma Christian (4-11, 0-3) to hold on for an 80-77 win Saturday at the Eagles' Nest.

ISABEL HERNANDEZ led the charge for SEU with 17 points while BAILEY HILL hit four of the Hilltoppers' 12 3-pointers in the Heartland Conference victory.

OC's Maddison Collyer hit a 3-point shot with 4:08 remaining in the first quarter to give the Eagles a 14-13 lead, however SEU's ABBY HOPPER hit a jumper on the next possession giving the Hilltoppers the lead for which it would never relinquish.

The Hilltoppers led by 10 with 3:55 to go in the contest, but OC chipped at the lead for the remainder of the game, and the Eagles cut the lead to two points with five seconds remaining at 79-77. However, Hill hit one of two free throw attempts after a quick Eagles foul, and Megan Shelton's last-second 3-point attempt fell short for OC.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Five Hilltoppers scored in double figures Saturday; SEU hadn't had more than three players score in double figures in the same game before the balanced scoring attack vs. the Eagles Saturday.
• SEU tied a season-high with 12 3-point field goals on 21 attempts.
• LEXI CUNNINGHAM's 10 points gave her six games this season with double-digit points and 11 in her career.
• BAILEY HILL moved to 8th place all-time on the SEU career list for 3-point field goals made with four Saturday giving her 99 (98, Kelli Payton, 2006-10; 98, Sara Baca, 2002-06).
• Hill's 13 points marks the sixth time this season she's scored in double figures and the 21st time in her career.
• Hill led SEU with six rebounds.
• ISABEL HERNANDEZ's 17 points led the Hilltoppers offensively, and she has scored in double-digits in 11 of SEU's 15 games this season.
• ABIGAIL WHYTE scored a season-high 11 points, including a 3-for-4 performance from the field. It was Whyte's first time in double figures for the Hilltoppers.
• ABBY HOPPER scored in double figures for the second time this season and the 16th time in her career with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting.
• HALEY JOLY's eight points gave her an even 350 for her career.
• Joly grabbed four steals and has had three or more steals six games this season.

NOTES
• Saturday's win marked the 50th career conference win for SEU head coach J.J. Riehl.
• SEU is 7-8 all-time vs. OC and 5-5 in the Riehl era.

STAT OF THE GAME I
10 – SEU hit 18 free throws for the game, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter and were needed to hold off OC's rally.

THEY SAID IT
SEU Head Coach J.J. Riehl on OC's comeback in the fourth quarter …
"Crazy last eight minutes. If you're looking at it, probably not the best finish. We did about everything you wouldn't want to do to close out a game. We didn't make free throws, we were loose with the ball, we let OC score quickly, we didn't dominate the glass, but in the end we figured out a way to get it done. And, when you have a young team and players that are trying to figure it out, that's really all you can ask. OC is always a tough opponent, this is a tough place to win. And, so for us to come up here and not finish out the game the way we wanted and still figure out a way to hang on and get a win. I'm really proud of the kids, really pleased with our preparation and sense of urgency. I really just thought for the majority of the game we were more excited about the opportunity. And, we've just got to continue doing what we do and staying locked in, and committed to just being us, and accepting that it's good enough and not getting outside of that and who we are, and what we're about. I really like the team that's come back from Christmas break. I think we're moving in the right direction. Looking forward to getting back home and being in the RCC, and seeing if we can't put a little run together here."

WHAT'S NEXT
SEU resumes Heartland Conference play at home Thursday vs. UAFS at 5:30 p.m.