AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's Women's Basketball used suffocating defense en route to a 60-54 win over Kutztown Tuesday evening. The Hilltoppers forced the Golden Bears into 26 turnovers and held them to just 37% shooting from the field.

Kutztown started the game with a steal and score on their first defensive possession, but SEU took over from there and went on an 8-0 run to lead by six, 8-2 with 5:29 to go in the first quarter. St. Edward's held on to a slight advantage throughout the first, taking a four point lead, 14-10, into the second.

Just one minute into the second quarter the Hilltoppers pushed their lead back to eight on MARYAM WILCHER's layup. SEU never let the Golden Bears closer than four points in the frame and took a seven point lead into the locker room, 27-20.

St. Edward's lead held up throughout the third, but Kutztown hung close, eventually pulling within two, 38-36 with 2:05 remaining in the third.

With a five point lead in hand heading into the fourth the Hilltoppers pressed on and posted their largest lead of the game, 55-47, with 5:24 to go. KU refused to go quietly into the night as they cut the lead to three with 29 seconds remaining. LEXI CUNNINGHAM drained a free throw to push the SEU lead back to four, 58-54.

A pair of defensive stops sealed the win for St. Edward's as ISABEL HERNANDEZ came up with the steal and knocked down the free throws with 11 seconds remaining to secure the win.

Hernandez led all scorers with 17 points and added a team high six assists and three steals. LEXI CUNNINGHAM added 13 points off the bench while ABBY HOPPER chipped in 10. ABIGAIL WHYTE was outstanding off the bench, recording a team-high six rebounds and two blocks in just six minutes of action.

The Hilltoppers improve to 4-1 on the year and remain at home to face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at 2 pm.