SAN ANTONIO – A disastrous first quarter put St. Edward's Hilltoppers women's basketball team in a hole it couldn't dig itself out of in a 74-45 loss to the Colorado School of Mines in the season opener.
With its guard depth depleted just before the season's opener, the Hilltopper offense struggled to find footing in the opening quarter. St. Edward's committed 12 turnovers to nine shot attempts in the first 10 minutes to fall into a 19-point deficit.
Jayda Ruffus-Milner helped the offense find its footing in the second quarter, finding MATILDA SORIC for a 3-pointer, followed by a driving layup, and then an assist to ISABEL LANGENBERG for another 3-pointer. However, turnovers continued to plague the Hilltoppers, committing eight in the quarter for 20 at the half to trail 38-14.
The Hilltoppers won the turnover battle in the third quarter for the first time, allowing the defense to set itself. St. Edward's swarmed the ball in the halfcourt for five steals, forcing seven turnovers while holding Colorado to 6-for-16 shooting (37.5) percent in the most tightly contested quarter of the contest.
St. Edward's produced its highest scoring quarter in the fourth with a 9-for-12 performance from the free-throw line but surrendered six offensive rebounds and committed another nine turnovers to give Colorado 10 more shot attempts in the quarter.
LAUREN CATHERMAN led the Hilltoppers with 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting, including 1-for-2 from the 3-point line and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. SAMMIE DUFEK had six points, eight rebounds, and a pair of blocks.
St. Edward's struggled to take care of the ball all afternoon, committing 35 turnovers, including 20 of the live-ball variety, surrendering 33 points off turnovers, including a 20-5 Colorado advantage in fast-break points. Colorado also outrebounded St. Edward's 45-27, scoring 21 second-chance points. The sheer volume of possessions overwhelmed St. Edward's with a 76-38 advantage in shot attempts.
The Hilltoppers will look to bound back tomorrow against Regis University at 3:00 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas.
