AUSTIN, Texas – In one of the most exciting games in the Lone Star Conference this season, the St. Edward's women's basketball team fell on the wrong side of a last-second game-winner in a 71-69 loss to the Texas-Tyler Patriots.
MATILDA SORIC hit two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to give the Hilltoppers a three-point lead with 22 seconds remaining. However, The Patriots responded with a contested Meagan Machalova 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game. Destini Whitehead delivered the game-winner with less than a second remaining.
Four of St. Edward's five starters scored in double figures, and the Hilltopper bench contributed 16 points. The Hilltoppers assisted on 14 of its 22 made field goals.
The Hilltoppers opened the game with a balanced scoring effort, getting five points each from MORGAN GARY, LAUREN CATHERMAN, and RONNIE CANTU. DAFNE GIANESINI added a 3-pointer off the bench in a Hilltopper 3-for-6 quarter from deep to give St. Edward's a 20-17 lead.
Things unraveled a little for St. Edward's in the second quarter when Texas-Tyler reeled off a 15-2 run over four minutes, taking a 38-28 lead on a Martina Machalova four-point play with 3:36 remaining in the half.
St. Edward's shot 4-for-12 in the quarter and struggled to get paint touches, attempting eight 3-pointers, with one made from long distance. The Hilltoppers compounded matters with six turnovers. Texas-Tyler tuned its defense to offense, shooting 10-for-18 in the quarter, with Machalova scoring 11 to give the Patriots a 44-31 lead at the break.
The Hilltoppers battled back in the third quarter on the strength of their defense, forcing six turnovers, including four off steals as part of a 14-10 Hilltopper quarter led by Ruffus-Milner's five points.
St. Edward's opened the quarter with a 3-pointer from Cantu on an assist from Gary, then answered a Whitehead jumper with a 3-pointer from Gary on a feed from Cantu.
After a few exchanged baskets, Catherman brought St. Edward's within five on a driving layup, foul, and free throw.
Ruffus-Milner followed with a quick reverse pivot and off the catch at the elbow, making the driving layup through contact and converting the free throw for the 3-point play. On the ensuing defensive possession, Ruffus-Milner ripped Montse Gutierrez, then drew a foul on the other end to tie the game at 61 with 3:50 remaining.
Gary picked up her fifth foul on the next defensive possession, and Hevinder hit a 3-pointer out of the baseline inbounds. Soric answered with a 3-pointer from Catherman. After a defensive stop, Catherman drew a foul and nailed both free throws to give St. Edward's a 66-64 lead.
Texas-Tyler tied it on a Whitehead pull-up jumper, and Soric responded with a 3-pointer out of a timeout. However, Hevinder responded with another make on a contested 3-pointer.
St. Edward's and Texas-Tyler pulled even four times in the fourth quarter with two lead changes in the final two minutes. Texas-Tyler received the ball back with 12 seconds remaining when JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER and Lovisa Hevinder got tangled up in a controversial offensive foul called on Ruffus-Milner, fouling her out of the game. Whitehead got the ball deep in the paint and hit the fall-away jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining to win the game.
Gary led St. Edward's with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Ruffus-Milner and Catherman scored 12 points each, with the latter contributing three assists. Cantu added 11 points and four assists with three steals. Machalova led Texas-Tyler with 20 off the bench, and Whitehead and Hevinder scored 14 points each. Frances King rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points on six shots.
St. Edward's falls to 11-12 with a 7-8 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host Texas Woman's University on Monday at 1:00 p.m.
