AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball battled the No. 4-ranked team in the nation for one half, but Texas Women's made an insurmountable run in the third quarter to win 70-51.
Texas Woman's is the last Lone Star Conference team to remain undefeated in conference play. However, the Pioneers' style, which leans more on sound principles rather than disruptive forces, is something the Hilltoppers have matched up with reasonably well in the past.
Both teams executed their offense in the first quarter, totaling four assists each. JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER led the Hilltopper offense early, finding MORGAN GARY for an open 3-pointer for St. Edward's first points. Next, she earned a trip to the free-throw line a few possessions later, knocking down both.
Then, Ruffus-Milner followed a RONNIE CANTU miss with a putback, drew an offensive foul, hit SAMMIE DUFEK for an open jumper, and drove for a layup to finish with six points, two assists, and a block in the first quarter. Brielle Woods and Ashley Ingram countered with a combined 13 points to lead Texas Woman's to an 18-15 lead after the first quarter.
St. Edward's went cold in the second quarter, shooting 3-for-12 from the field, including 0-4 from deep. Texas Woman's bench stepped up with seven combined points from Jada Celsur and Keslyn King, supplementing Ingram's 12 points to take a 32-24 lead into the break.
The challenge with Texas Woman's University is in its consistency. The Pioneers execute at a steady level for 40 minutes, creating separation when an opponent drops its focus, effort, or execution.
That moment came in the third quarter for a shorthanded St. Edward's team playing its second game in three days. Texas Woman's opened the half on a 12-5 run over the first four minutes, getting five points each from its inside-outside combination of Ingram and Sadie Moyer. The Hilltoppers went 2-for-5 from the field over the stretch to fall behind 46-29.
St. Edward's shot 6-for-15 from the field to score 13 points in the quarter but surrendered 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting, losing track of Moyer, who scored 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers, to lead Texas Woman's to a 61-39 lead.
The Hilltoppers outscored the Pioneers 14-11 in the fourth, getting six points from BELLA MUSCOREIL, who showed great chemistry with freshman MIKAH CHAPMAN, who found Muscoreil for a pair of layups.
Ruffus-Milner led St. Edward's with 14 points and 5-for-9 shooting, hitting 4-of-5 free throws with three assists. Dufek added 10 points on 10 shots with nine rebounds, finding her touch on spot-up midrange jumpers. Ingram led Texas Woman's with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, and Moyer added 10 points.
St. Edward's falls to 11-13 with a 7-9 conference record. The Hilltoppers host Arkansas Fort Smith on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
