Colorado Springs, Colo. – The St. Edward's women's basketball team jumped out to a quick lead but could not hold off UC-Colorado Springs as they fell 65-57 Sunday at the Gallogly Events Center.
 
ISABEL HERNANDEZ turned in a game-high 20 points marking the fourth time this season the senior forward has scored 20 or more points in a game. She also added six rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal to her stat line. Junior transfer MARYAM WILCHER flirted with a double-double as she scored 14 points and pulled down eight boards, while senior forward ABBY HOPPER rounded out the trio of double-digit scorers for the Hilltoppers with 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.    
 
SEU got off to a fast start as they ended the first quarter with a 23-9 lead marking the game's largest lead of the night. The Mountain Lions responded with a 24-point second quarter, however, and held the Hilltoppers to 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the floor. The Hilltoppers went into intermission hanging on to a 35-33 advantage.
 
UCCS would pick up where they left off in the third quarter, opening with a 6-0 run. A layup by the Mountain Lion's Emily Seifert gave the home team the lead and they would not relinquish it again for the remainder of the contest.
 
After trailing by as many as eight points in the third quarter, BAILEY HILL knocked down a triple at the 9:27 mark of the fourth stanza to cut the lead to four, 52-48. However, a 7-0 run by the Mountain Lions gave them its largest lead of the night as they went on to win 65-57.
 
The Hilltoppers will take a 10-day hiatus from competition before returning to the RCC Jan. 10 when they host its rival St. Mary's at 5:30 p.m. to open the Heartland Conference schedule.