AUSTIN – A huge start to the fourth quarter allowed St. Edward's women's basketball to post their largest lead of the game, 17 points, on their way to a home-opening win over Huston-Tillotson Tuesday.
 
SEU started on an 8-2 run before HTU started to pull back into the game, leading briefly 11-8 with just over four minutes to play in the first. MORGAN GARY put back her own miss to give the Hilltoppers a slight three-point advantage at the end of the first, 16-13.
 
St. Edward's continued to power on, holding onto a slight advantage throughout the second quarter, leading 26-31 at the break.
 
HALEY BLANKINSHIP's three halfway through the third quarter gave the Hilltoppers their first double-digit lead of the game, 48-38. By the end of the third, SEU held on to a 12-point lead 57-45.
 
To open the fourth quarter, St. Edward's went on a 7-2 run to lead by 17, 64-47, and never allowed the Rams closer than 11 points in the final frame to close out the win.
 
St. Edward's shot 50.9 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range in the win. TAYLOR COCKERILL was outstanding, posting 21 points on 7-10 shooting from the floor, 1-2 from three-point and 6-7 from the free throw line. MORGAN GARY and Blankinship added 15 points each while LAUREN CATHERMAN added 11.
 
Defensively, SAMMIE DUFEK frustrated the Rams with six blocks and four steals. Cockerill also posted four steals while MCCALL HAMPTON led with seven rebounds.
 
The Hilltoppers improve to 1-2 on the year and remain at home to host Arlington Baptist on Friday at 6 pm.