AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball team surrendered 44 points in the paint in a 71-63 loss to Texas Lutheran in the Hilltoppers' home opener.
JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER led three Hilltoppers in double figures with 16 points on eight shots but couldn't overcome a 19-point, 10-rebound effort from Texas Lutheran center Brianna Wilson.
St. Edward's press struggled in the first half. The Hilltopper pressure forced eight turnovers, including six steals, but it also allowed the Bulldogs to leak out behind the defense for multiple layups. In the halfcourt, the Bulldogs fed Wilson early and often, and she scored 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
BAILEY FEATHERSTONE led St. Edward's at the half with seven points, and Ruffus-Milner added six and five rebounds. However, the Hilltoppers struggled from the field, hitting just 10-for-30 to trail 40-26 at the break.
St. Edward's opened the second half with a more patient offense and greater intensity and coordination on defense, cutting its deficit to six twice. The Hilltoppers found their footing on the defensive end, with
LAUREN CATHERMAN being a perpetual nuisance with multiple deflections and Ruffus-Milner taking over the game defensively with three steals. In the quarter, she scored eight points on 4-for-4 shooting. St. Edward's forced eight turnovers and allowed only three assists, outscoring Texas Lutheran 18-12 to trail 52-44 heading into the fourth.
Featherstone shook off early shooting struggles to score seven points on three shots, but Texas Lutheran outscored St. Edward's 6-0 in points off turnovers, 12-4 in the paint, and 10-3 in bench scoring to hold its lead steady in a 19-19 fourth quarter.
Ruffus-Milner finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six steals, shooting 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line. Featherstone added 16 points and five rebounds, and
JANIAH PERKINS scored 13 on seven shots.
St. Edward's falls to 0-3 with the loss, while Texas Lutheran remains undefeated at 4-0. St. Edward's will host Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
