SAN ANGELO, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball made a late fourth-quarter 10-0 run but couldn't close the gap entirely in a 76-68 loss to Angelo State. 
 
First-years JANIAH PERKINS and BAILEY FEATHERSTONE led the Hilltoppers in scoring, combining for 35 points, but couldn't overcome a more balanced Angelo State attack led by Madeline Stephens's 21-point, 14-rebound double-double to lead four Angelo State players in double figures. 
 
St. Edward's held an early 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter, but Angelo State's Sawyer Lloyd sparked the team with eight points, and the Rambelles rode a late 6-0 run to a 17-12 lead at the end of the first. 
 
The Hilltoppers starters struggled from the field in the second quarter, shooting a combined 3-for-10 while Stephens scored 11 points on five shots. CELISE BOBBITT sparked St. Edward's with six points, hitting all three of her shot attempts, to keep the Hilltoppers within nine at the break, trailing 37-28. 
 
Angelo State extended the lead in the third quarter with eight different Rambelles scoring, grabbing seven offensive rebounds in the quarter for a 20-12 advantage in shot attempts and leading 60-44 heading into the fourth. 
 
J.P. erupted for 11 points in the fourth, shooting 3-for-6 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line to finish with a game-high 23 points. The Hilltoppers cut the deficit to four with 49 seconds remaining, but Angelo State sealed the game with four free throws down the stretch. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 7-11 with a 4-8 conference record after the loss. The Hilltoppers will return home to play Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.