LANGLEY, B.C., Canada – St. Edward's women's basketball hung tough against the No. 4-ranked team in the nation, staying within striking distance until midway through the fourth quarter of a 70-57 loss to the University of Tampa Spartans. 
 
KIANA BENNETT erupted for 21 points, hitting 5-for-11 from deep, and grabbed six boards, and J.P. added 11 points and four assists for the Hilltoppers, who won the possession battle but couldn't keep pace with Tampa's 11 3-pointers and 11 free throws. 
 
Bennett was aggressive from the start, hitting a short jumper off the opening tip on a pass from J.P. She followed a Piller layup with her first 3-pointer off a feed from RAMSEY ROBLEDO. Then, J.P. answered a Rodriguez 3-pointer with one of her own. A late 7-0 Tampa run gave the Spartans a five-point lead, but BAILEY FEATHERSTONE came off the bench and scored three points in the quarter to keep St. Edward's within two at 15-13. Bennett had seven of St. Edward's 13 points in the quarter. 
 
Featherstone continued to spark the Hilltoppers off the bench with a layup off a feed from RILEY MOORE to tie the game to open the second, then answered a Piller layup with a pair of free throws. MIKAH CHAPMAN gave the Hilltoppers a brief lead with a putback, but Tapa caught fire from deep, hitting 4-for-6 behind the 3-point line to take a 37-32 lead into the break. 
 
Bennett led all scorers with 10 points, and Featherstone added seven off the bench for St. Edward's, who moved the ball well, assisting on seven of its 12 made field goals to just a single turnover at the break. Sariana Rodriguez led Tampa with nine points on 3-for-4 3-point shooting.
 
Bennett opened the second half with a 3-pointer from J.P., but Piller answered with back-to-back layups, and Davis hit a 3-pointer to put Tampa back up nine. J.P. answered with a short jumper and a layup off a fast break triggered by Chapman's steal. 
 
After both teams exchanged buckets, Moore and Featherstone twice pulled St. Edward's within six. Still, McDonald hit a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to extend the lead to double digits before Bennett hit a layup in the final minute of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 54-45. 
 
Bennett and ALAYAH FLUCUS pulled St. Edward's within four with a 3-pointer and short jumper off a feed from J.P., but Tampa responded with a 6-0 run to go back up 10. Bennett hit another 3-pointer, but the Spartans answered with a 7-0 run to extend the lead back up double digits for good. 
 
Thunell led St. Edward's on the boards with seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Featherstone finished with nine points on five shots in 20 minutes. All five starters scored in double figures for Tampa in a shortened six-woman rotation.