AUSTIN, Texas - JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER and MORGAN GARY combined for 34 points, and the St. Edward's women's basketball team made one clutch play after another in a 61-55 win over the Texas Permian Basin Falcons.
After early season struggles due to the loss of two guards before the season started, a new identity has come into focus over the past few games.
St. Edward's has leaned into an active defense, looking to speed the opponent up and create opportunistic turnovers. Each defensive stop is an opportunity to get the offense downhill in transition, where the team can find good shots before a defense can set.
In the halfcourt, JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER has emerged as a go-to hub on the elbows to complement MORGAN GARY's barreling drives from the wings. Additionally, the starting backcourt of RONNIE CANTU and LAUREN CATHERMAN has big fourth-quarter moments in this now three-game winning streak.
The Hilltoppers opened the game leaning into that formula, swarming on defense and forcing turnovers on two of Texas Permian Basin's first three possessions.
St. Edward's utilized quick feet and active hands to make the Falcons pay for every moment of inattentiveness, poking the ball loose from ball handlers, deflecting passes, and disrupting Texas Permian Basin to turn defense into offense and start the game on a 10-2 run.
Although the Hilltoppers have found new strengths, they're still occasionally plagued by recurring flaws, committing eight turnovers in the first quarter, which Permian Basin turned into 13 points to take a 16-10 lead at the break.
However, now the team follows the lead of its two wings, mirroring the relentlessness of Gary and Ruffus-Milner.
After falling behind eight with four minutes remaining in the half, St. Edward's responded with a 6-0 run. Ruffus-Milner found Gary for a short jumper, then Gary earned and sank a pair of free throws, followed by a Ruffus-Milner steal and layup. Holly Hemmeline responded with a 3-pointer to give Permian Basin a 30-25 lead at the half.
The Falcons made another run to open the third, extending its lead to eight again. Although Permian Basin had momentum, St. Edward's had Gary. First, St. Edward's leading scorer stopped the Hilltoppers' slide with a floater. Then, after a pair of Ruffus-Milner free throws, Gary ripped Portalis near halfcourt and sprinted down the other end for a layup.
Gary scored 10 points in the third quarter on 5-for-7 shooting, leading the charge for a 17-11 Hilltopper run capped off by a critical 3-pointer by MATILDA SORIC for the 42-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Permian Basin's Alexus Quaadman scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, getting free for seven points in the final 10 minutes, hitting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line and giving the Falcons a five-point lead with 6:43 remaining.
Momentum appeared squarely on Permian Basin's side again when Ruffus-Milner missed two free throws. Still, the Hilltoppers' graduate transfer was undeterred, grabbing the offensive rebound and getting to the free-throw line to split the next pair.
A few possessions later, Ruffus-Milner aggressively attacked the basked with a spinning up-and-under, scoring, drawing the foul, and completing the 3-point play. St. Edward's followed with a full-court press, which Permian Basin broke.
Playing as the last line of defense, Ruffus-Milner broke up the numbers advantage, tying Avalon Munoz up for the jump ball and turnover. Catherman missed an open 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, but Ruffus-Milner corralled the rebound and laid it in to cap off a one-woman 6-0 run to give St. Edward's the lead.
Next, Catherman ripped Munoz at halfcourt and scored a layup, but Permian Basin's Morgan Helgesen tied the game with a 3-pointer.
St. Edward's responded with a clutch 3-pointer from Cantu. The junior point guard shook off early struggles to score 10 points in the final three minutes, following the 3-pointer with seven made free throws to secure the victory.
Gary matched Quaadman with 20 points for game-high honors, shooting 9-for-14 from the field and contributing five rebounds and two steals. Ruffus-Milner added 14 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists in a brilliant all-around game highlighted by a dominant defensive performance. With Ruffus-Milner on the wings and SAMMIE DUFEK protecting the paint, St. Edward's stifled Permian Basin in the second half, limiting the Falcons to 6-for-26 shooting.
St. Edward's forced 23 turnovers, including 15 steals, outscoring Permian Basin 16-4 on the break, 8-5 on second-chance points, and 26-12 in the paint.
With its third consecutive win, St. Edward's is now back over .500 with a 10-9 record, including 6-5 in conference play. The Hilltoppers will host Angelo State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
