GOLDEN, Colo. – St. Edward's women's basketball opened its season with an auspicious debut from first-year guard JANIAH PERKINS and solid bench production in a 74-60 loss to the Regis Rangers on the first day of the LSC/RMAC Challenge. 
 
The Hilltoppers went nearly shot-for-shot with the preseason RMAC favorites in the first quarter, making one more shot but two fewer 3-pointers to trail by two after the first 10 minutes. 
 
St. Edward's got seven points from Perkins on 3-for-4 shooting in four minutes of play before exiting the quarter early with two personal fouls. Regis got a quick start behind Josey Ryan's nine points on five shots in the quarter, and the Rangers opened a six-point lead with a little under four minutes remaining in the half. 
 
The Hilltoppers closed the gap, cutting it to two points on a 3-pointer from RONNIE CANTU with 57 seconds remaining in the quarter, making the score 19-17. 
 
St. Edward's struggled from the field in the second quarter, and Regis went on a scoring run led by a combined 13 points from Sydney Speights and Ryan to open a double-digit lead. The Hilltoppers battled back with an 8-0 run near the end of the half sparked by the bench trio of Cantu, CELISE BOBBITT, and ISABEL LANGENBERG, trailing 41-25 at the break. 
 
The Hilltoppers carried the momentum into the second half, scoring the third quarter's first six points and outscoring the Rangers 20-12 over the 10 minutes. Perkins once again led the charge with 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting, but it was an entire team effort, with all nine Hilltoppers who played recording a positive plus-minus in the third. 
 
St. Edward's repeatedly got into the paint, outscoring Regis 14-6 inside and 6-0 on fast breaks. Four minutes into the second half, a driving layup by Perkins pulled St. Edward's within seven. After a 5-0 Regis run, St. Edward's answered with another small run, getting a 3-pointer from Perkins with four seconds remaining to go into the fourth trailing 53-45. 
 
In the fourth quarter, Regis got eight points on five shots from Ryan and reeled off a 6-0 run midway through to halt St. Edward's momentum, outscoring the Hilltoppers 21-15. 
 
Perkins led St. Edward's with 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting, hitting 2-for-5 from the 3-point line. LAUREN CATHERMAN and Cantu scored nine points each. JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER led the team with nine rebounds and also had three steals. St. Edward's forced 21 turnovers, including 13 steals, led by BAILEY FEATHERSTONE's four steals. 
 
Ryan led three Rangers in double figures with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including 5-for-8 from deep. Erin Fry added 13 points, and Speights scored 11. 
 
St. Edward's will remain in Colorado and play the host Colorado School of Mines tomorrow at 1 p.m. CST, with the latter coming off an 81-68 win over St. Mary's in its season opener.