LUBBOCK, Texas – The St. Edward's women's basketball team opened its final weekend road trip of the regular season with a 55-29 loss to the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaparrals. 

St. Edward's struggled to find a rhythm offensively against one of the top defensive teams in the Lone Star Conference. Lubbock Christian ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage defense and third in defensive rebounds, scoring defense, and scoring offense.

The Hilltoppers opened with a driving layup from JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER and a pair of made free throws from SAMMIE DUFEK but struggled to find the bottom of the net after that. Nevertheless, St. Edward's remained within reach early through its own defensive efforts, trailing 10-4 after the first quarter.

St. Edward's tripled its scoring output in the second quarter, getting six points from Ruffus-Milner, a 3-pointer from MATILDA SORIC, and a bucket each from Dufek and AINSLEY THUNELL. However, Lubbock Christian's Grace Foster caught fire with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the 3-point line to lead the Lady Chaps to a 28-17 lead at the half. 

Lubbock Christian got a trio of layups in the third quarter, along with seven made free throws in eight attempts. The Hilltoppers struggled from the field but hit 4-of-5 from the free-throw line in a 13-6 Lubbock Christian third quarter. 

Soric and LAUREN CATHERMAN found their range from deep with a 3-pointer each in the third quarter, but the Hilltoppers struggled outside that and could not get to the free-throw line to compensate. 

Ruffus-Milner led St. Edward's with 11 points, shooting 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Soric and Thunell combined for 10 points off the bench on 3-for-7 shooting. Foster was the lone Lady Chap in double figures with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

St. Edward's falls to 13-14 with a 9-10 conference record after the loss. The Hilltoppers will remain on the road and play West Texas A&M on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.