AUSTIN – RONNIE CANTU hit a trio of clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help propel the St. Edward's Hilltoppers women's basketball to a 68-64 victory over the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs.
Cantu was one of four starters in double figures for the Hilltoppers, scoring a career-high 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting, including 4-for-6 from beyond the 3-point line in her third collegiate start. MORGAN GARY led the team with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
St. Edward's made its way to the free-throw line early and often on the slashing ability of Jayda Ruffus-Milner, who scored five points and made 3-of-4 free throws. However, the rest of the team struggled to convert, making just 6-for-11 combined in the first quarter.
The scoring drought led to an 8-0 Texas Lutheran scoring run, sparked by six consecutive free throws of their own and capped off by a Kailee Mulkey hook shot in the paint to give the Bulldogs an 18-16 lead. MCCALL HAMPTON responded with a driving layup, tying the game at the end of the first quarter.
Gary set the tone in the second quarter by hitting the offensive glass, scoring five quick points on a pair of offensive rebounds and putbacks, including a layup and foul 3-point play. The 5-foot-9 forward scored nine of St. Edward's 15 points in the quarter in five shots, including three from offensive rebounds, to give the Hilltoppers a 33-30 lead at the half.
Texas Lutheran guard Lauren Sansano got free for three 3-pointers in the third quarter and added a pair of free throws. The Bulldogs capitalized on seven St. Edward's turnovers as part of a 20-15 run to take a 50-48 lead heading into the fourth.
Cantu sparked the Hilltoppers with back-to-back 3-pointers to open the quarter, scoring off assists from Ruffus-Milner and Gary on identical plays to give the Hilltoppers a 57-54 lead with 4:19 remaining. The Bulldogs tied the game at 60 on a pull-up jumper by Lauren Sansano, then took the lead on a Mulkey steal and layup. Cantu answered with another big 3-pointer off a feed from Gary to retake the lead.
Gary helped extend it on the Hilltoppers' ensuing possession with an offensive rebound, drawing a foul and making 1-of-2 free throws. Then, after Sansano missed a driving layup, Cantu found Gary on the fast break for a four-point lead at 66-62.
Skurka brought Texas Lutheran back within two with an offensive rebound and layup, but LAUREN CATHERMAN sealed the game with free throws.
Catherman finished with 15 points and four assists, and Ruffus-Milner added 11, hitting seven free throws on 12 attempts. The Hilltoppers shot 18-for-32 from the free-throw line and 41.2 percent from the floor, including 8-for-20 from deep. Sansano led Texas Lutheran with 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
St. Edward's improves to 1-2 with the win. The Hilltoppers will host Huston Tillotson on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
