KINGSVILLE, Texas – A frigid shooting second quarter cost the St. Edward's women's basketball team a 55-39 loss to the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas in a battle between the sixth and seventh-place teams in the Lone Star Conference.
JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER led the Hilltoppers with 11 points and five rebounds on a night the Hilltoppers struggled from the field, hitting 23.1 percent (12-for-52), including 2-for-20 from beyond the 3-point line.
The Hilltoppers opened with a solid effort, getting five first-quarter points from LAUREN CATHERMAN and a big 3-pointer late in the first quarter from reserve DAFNE GIANESINI to take a 13-10 lead after the first 10 minutes.
St. Edward's missed its first seven shots of the second quarter, allowing a 14-0 run to give Kingsville a 24-13 lead until MORGAN GARY followed a missed 3-pointer with an offensive rebound and score. The Hilltoppers shot 2-for-13 in the quarter, while Jayda Tschritter led the Javelinas with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep in the second to give Kingsville the 32-17 lead at the half.
The Hilltoppers ramped up their effort after the break, forcing five turnovers and grabbing three offensive rebounds to double up the Javelinas' shot attempts at 14-7, but could only convert on four, cutting into the deficit by only one point after three quarters.
Both teams got to the free-throw line for double-digit attempts in the fourth quarter and only hit two shots from the field. St. Edward's hit just 6-of-10 from the charity stripe, getting five makes on six attempts from Ruffus-Milner.
St. Edward's had 12 offensive rebounds for a 10-4 advantage in second-chance points and won the turnover battle 15-11, recording five steals. However, three Kingsville players scored in double figures, led by Georgia Ohiaeri and Tschritter's 13 points each. Ohiaeri did most of her damage from the free-throw line, hitting 8-of-10 and grabbing 10 rebounds. Mia Rivers had 12 points and six assists.
The Hilltoppers fall to 10-11 with a 6-7 conference record after the loss. St. Edward's will hit the road to play Texas A&M International on Saturday.
