AUSTIN - The St. Edward's women's basketball team opened the 2020-21 season against Texas A&M-Commerce Friday, falling 85-74. 

The pace of the game was clear early as both teams looked to score in transition and on breakaways while pressing defensively. A tight first quarter gave way to a 9-0 Lion run to start the second quarter, putting TAMUC up 11, 30-21. The Hilltoppers chipped away at the lead, pulling within five, 32-27 with 4:40 remaining in the half. SEU would go into the locker room with a six point deficit, 42-36. 

Turnovers plagued the Hilltoppers as the second half got underway, allowing Commerce to build a 15-point advantage, 56-41, just two and a half minutes in. SEU pulled together and pulled within nine, 67-58, heading into the fourth. 

St. Edward's got within seven points on JAZMINE JACKSON's layup with 7:27 to play, but that is as close as SEU could get as TAMUC closed out the game. 

The Hilltoppers committed 28 turnovers in the contest but forced 29 with 16 steals. SEU shot just 31.3 percent from the floor and 31.6% from three-point range. CHRISTINA MASON led offensively with 18 points on 7-21 shooting from the floor, 2-9 from three point range. SAMMIE DUFEK led on the glass with 12 rebounds and added 13 points while Jackson posted her first career double-double with 11 boards and 10 points. Charli Becked added 11 points with five steals. 

St. Edward's falls to 0-1 on the year and remain at home to face Texas A&M-Commerce again on Saturday at 2 pm.