Box Score DENVER, Colo. – St. Edward's women's basketball's offense was strong early but had difficulty making up ground in the second half, falling 65-52 to #23 Colorado School of Mines Saturday.
 
It took nearly three minutes for either team to score their first points, but SEU's MORGAN GARY broke the stalemate to put the Hilltoppers on top. Mines quickly answered and the game remained tight all the way until the end of the first quarter with St. Edward's leading 15-14.
 
It took just over five minutes for the Hilltoppers to get their first field goal in the second quarter. Despite the struggles scoring, SEU was able to hang close with tough defense and trailed by only three, 29-26, at the half.
 
Colorado School of Mines opened the third quarter with a three and never allowed SEU to regain the lead, leading by as many as 19 with 1:45 to go in the third. St. Edward's closed the frame on a run and was able to get within 13, 52-39, on a pair of TAYLOR COCKERILL free throws just before the start of the fourth.
 
The deficit was just too much for the Hilltoppers to overcome as they never got within single digits in the final frame to suffer the loss.
 
SEU shot 32.6 percent from the floor while holding Mines to 31.1 percent, but were outrebounded 45-36 in the loss.
 
HALEY BLANKINSHIP led offensively with 13 points while Cockerill added in 13 with a team-high six assists. SAMMIE DUFEK led on the glass with 11 rebounds while MORGAN GARY added in nine boards.
 
St. Edward's drops to 0-2 on the season and will come home for the first time this season, facing Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday at 6 pm.