AUSTIN, Texas – SAMMIE DUFEK met Oklahoma Christian's Trinity Dobbs' final shot at the height of her layup attempt, sending the ball backward and Dobbs' to the ground, ending the Eagles' last comeback attempt in an 80-76 win for the Hilltoppers.
It was a fitting moment for the fifth-year starter and St. Edward's women's basketball's all-time leading shot blocker celebrating her senior day in the penultimate home game of her collegiate career.
Dufek didn't just reject the shot; she pulled the ball down with her, forcing Oklahoma Christian to foul with 28 seconds remaining. After missing the first attempt, Dufek sank the second, pushing the team's total to 42 and tying the program record for most free throws made in a game. Sixteen seconds later, Dufek pushed the Hilltoppers past the mark with a pair of free throws to ice the game.
It was an incredible individual moment for a leader whose contributions on defense aren't always apparent in the box score. It was a great win to celebrate Dufek, MORGAN GARY, and MATILDA SORIC in their final weekend home game.
St. Edward's followed the formula it discovered a few weeks ago, leaning heavily on a swarming defense, JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER in the mid-post, and contributions from everywhere else.
Ruffus-Milner and LAUREN CATHERMAN led four Hilltoppers in double figures, combining for 40 points and driving St. Edward's record-setting free throw night by hitting 12 each on a combined 29 of the team's 53 attempts.
Catherman combined the shiftiness of her dribble with the ability to accelerate and decelerate on a dime to draw contact, scoring 18 points on 12-for-14 shooting from the free-throw line a game after finishing a perfect 13-for-13. Ruffus-Milner capitalizes on a quick first step and flawless footwork to get defenders out of position and force contact.
The duo combined for 11 points in the first quarter but arguably did their most significant damage on the defensive end in the second.
Catherman and Ruffus-Milner swarmed the ball whenever it entered their vicinity, coming away with two steals each and helping force seven turnovers in the quarter. Catherman jumped post-entry passes and deflected dribbles on the perimeter, while Ruffus-Milner made rotations so sudden they bordered on teleportation.
Catherman scored 10 points in the quarter on 3-for-3 shooting from the field and making all three free throws, Gary found her rhythm offensively and scored eight points on four shots, and St. Edward's outscored Oklahoma Christian 11-4 in points off turnovers for a 47-39 lead at the break.
Reserve Nakia Cullom sparked a 17-16 third quarter for Oklahoma City, bullying her way to the rim for six points on 3-for-5 shooting. The Eagles were efficient overall, hitting 7-of-13 from the field, but couldn't stop Ruffus-Milner inside, surrendering 10 points in the quarter with six coming from the free-throw line.
Oklahoma Christian made an 8-0 run nearly halfway through the fourth quarter, limiting St. Edward's to 2-for-11 shooting from the field. However, point guard RONNIE CANTU found her fourth-quarter magic again, hitting a critical corner 3-pointer off a feed from Dufek, a running floater off the glass, and both her free-throw attempts to keep the Eagles at bay.
Ruffus-Milner scored 22 points on 10 shots with six steals, and Catherman added 18 with three steals and two assists. Cantu finished with 14 points on seven shots, hitting all six free-throw attempts, and Gary scored 12 points and seven rebounds.
Jordan Francisco led Oklahoma Christian with 18 off the bench. Cullom added 16 points, and Brooklin Baint scored 13.
St. Edward's improves to 13-13 with a 9-9 conference record. The Hilltoppers will hit the road on Thursday to play Lubbock Christian University, followed by a Saturday road game against West Texas A&M.
