PORTALES, N.M. – LAUREN CATHERMAN and BAILEY FEATHERSTONE combined for 39 points, and the Hilltoppers scored a season-high against what had been the Lone Star Conference' second-stingiest defense by points per game in a 73-62 win over Eastern New Mexico (ENMU).
 
Catherman started the season scoring in single digits through the first three games, while Featherstone shot under 40 percent in the first three collegiate games of her career. 
 
Both found their rhythm in the previous game against Huston-Tillotson. Then, Catherman scored 10 points in the second quarter, playing limited minutes in a blowout win, while Featherstone led the team with 16 on 7-for-13 shooting. Both built on those performances in the conference opener. 
 
JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER and JANIAH PERKINS set the tone, combining for nine points on six shots in the first quarter, pushing St. Edward's to a 17-12 lead, but got in foul trouble with two each.
 
Vanessa Oduah sparked Eastern New Mexico with six points off the bench on 3-for-4 shooting in the second quarter, Ashley Shipley hit a 3-pointer, Deja Adrian and Adamari Waddell hit a bucket each, and the Greyhounds cut into the deficit by one point by outscoring St. Edward's 13-12. It was the only quarter the Greyhounds won. 
 
Featherstone kept Eastern New Mexico at bay with ten first-half points on seven shots, hitting 3-for-3 in the second quarter, getting to the elbows for her pull-up jumper to give St. Edward's a 29-25 halftime lead. 
 
Ruffus-Milner and J.P. picked up their fourth fouls early in the second half, but St. Edward's got quality contributions from its bench. DAFNE GIANESINI entered the game for Ruffus-Milner 30 seconds into the third and immediately scored on a putback, grabbing four rebounds in the quarter. Senior guard RONNIE CANTU returned from an injury that left her sidelined for several games and settled the offense with four points and two assists in the third. 
 
Catherman and Featherstone combined for 15 points in the quarter, and the Hilltoppers reeled off an 8-0 run to open a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. 
 
Featherstone showcased smooth driving layups with either hand to complement her pull-up jumper, and Catherman reminded everyone of her ability to score in bunches with 16 second-half points, scoring eight each quarter with efficient shooting (4-for-5 from the field) supplemented by trips to the free-throw line (7-for-7). 
 
St. Edward's extended its lead to 19 in the fourth on a coast-to-coast layup from Featherstone, and Eastern New Mexico's Shipley answered with back-to-back 3-pointers. Catherman quickly halted any momentum by splitting a pair of defenders and driving for a layup and foul.  
 
Eastern New Mexico opened the season with a 4-2 record based on a defense that limited opponents to less than 57 points per game, outrebounding opponents by five per game. St. Edward's hit that score with eight minutes remaining in the game and grabbed 43 more rebounds than ENMU. 
 
Catherman led the team with 20 points on ten shots, making all seven free-throw attempts and grabbing three rebounds and three steals. Featherstone scored 19 points on 9-for-15 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Ruffus-Milner and J.P. had nine each in fewer than 20 minutes. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 2-3 with the win in its first conference game, dropping Eastern New Mexico to 4-3. The Hilltoppers will remain on the road and play Western New Mexico on Saturday.