AUSTIN, Texas – With temperatures expected to plummet across Texas this week, the St. Edward's women's basketball team hit triple-digit scoring in a 102-43 win over the Arlington Baptist Patriots.
The Hilltoppers recorded a season-high 20 assists, shooting better than .500 from beyond the 3-point line for a second consecutive game to reach 100 points for the first time since a 100-59 victory over Western New Mexico in 2020.
SAMMIE DUFEK, the program's all-time leader in blocked shots, set the tone on the defensive end against an Arlington Baptist team that runs its offense through a pair of skilled post players in starter Jayla Johnson and reserve Laila Stewart.
Dufek's length intimidated the Arlington Baptist frontcourt, blocking an early Johnson hook shot and deterring further attempts by taking away any shooting lanes. The hesitancy from the Patriots' primary option shortcircuited the rest of the offense, which stagnated with its primary offensive hub neutralized.
On the other end, the Hilltoppers moved the ball with purpose, moving the ball to create advantages, assisting on five of their six made field goals in the first quarter and drawing 16 free-throw attempts, hitting 12 to take a 26-12 lead.
LAUREN CATHERMAN continued her recent scoring binge, opening the first quarter with eight points on 2-for-3 shooting and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. Catherman scored a team-high 21 points for the second time in the past three games, finishing 7-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 from deep to pace four Hilltoppers in double figures.
Arlington Baptist's Johnson and Campbell made some adjustments to get some flow in the Patriot offense, making the catch from further away from the basket to initiate their move off the dribble and forcing Dufek and BELLA MUSCOREIL to guard in space. The Patriots shot 7-for-15 in the quarter but were overwhelmed by St. Edward's offensive production.
St. Edward's carved up the Arlington Baptist with surgical precision in a 30-15 second quarter, shooting 12-for-16 from the field and making all three of its 3-pointers and free-throw attempts. The Hilltoppers moved the defense with skip passes and quick ball reversals from the elbows. In addition, Dufek provided downhill gravity on dives to the rim, scoring six points on 3-for-3 shooting in the quarter. MORGAN GARY, Catherman, and ISABEL LANGENBERG complemented the inside work with outside shooting, hitting a 3-pointer each.
Langenberg scorched the nets with seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in the quarter, finishing with a career-high 14 points on 12 shots to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals and helping lead the Hilltoppers to a 56-27 lead at the break.
Both teams opened a little shaky in the third quarter, but the Hilltoppers regained their momentum by turning to full-court defensive pressure, recording eight steals and forcing 12 turnovers to outscore Arlington Baptists 14-6 in points off turnovers.
The Hilltoppers turned to the bench in the fourth quarter and closed the game strong with a 25-9 finish, getting a combined 15 points from Muscoreil, AINSLEY THUNELL, and DAFNE GIANESINI on a combined 5-for-8 shooting. The Hilltoppers' second unit outscored their counterparts 19-9 in the quarter and 16-4 in the paint.
Catherman led the way with 21 points on 10 shots. Dufek finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds while recording four blocks and a steal. Gary added 12 points on just five shots, continuing to find confidence in her spot-up jumper to compliment her ability to get to the rim. Langenburg added 14 off the bench.
Lexi Campbell was the lone Patriot in double figures with 12 points, aggressively attacking the Hilltoppers' taller front court with drive-and-spin combinations to shoot 4-for-8 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.
St. Edward's improves to 6-6 for the season. The Hilltoppers will have more than a week off over the Christmas break, returning to action at home against Texas A&M International on Dec. 30.
