LUBBOCK, Texas – For the third time in four games against nationally-ranked opponents, the St. Edward's women's basketball team went possession-for-possession deep into the fourth quarter against an elite team before falling late, losing 61-56 to No. 19 Lubbock Christian to open conference play. 
 
The Hilltoppers showed their resiliency by pulling to within a single possession three times in the final two minutes, pulling within one on a pair of J.P. free throws with 12 seconds remaining. 
 
Instead of St. Edward's at least getting an opportunity to tie the game on a final possession, Lubbock Christian transformed a routine intentional foul to stop the clock into a flagrant, ending the game with a pair of free throws and the ball back for two more free throws. 
 
KIANA BENNETT led St. Edward's with 15 points, doing most of her damage in the first half, and the Hilltopper defense limited Lubbock Christian to 34 percent shooting from the field, including 6-for-21 from deep. 
 
St. Edward's opened the game on fire with a balanced attack in the first quarter, hitting 7-for-13 from the field to go up 18-12. The Hilltoppers shot 4-for-5 from deep, getting a 3-pointer from Bennett and RAMSEY ROBLEDO, with RILEY MOORE coming off the bench to hit two 3-pointers. Grace Foster and Audrey Robertson kept Lubbock Christian in the game early, combining for 12 points, with Robertson hitting two 3-pointers. 
 
Lubbock Christian clawed back in the game with an early 6-0 run in the second quarter. Robertson continued to fire away from long range, hitting two 3-pointers and 3-of-4 free-throw attempts. Bennett responded by hitting both her 3-point attempts in the quarter. J.P. got going with five points, and BAILEY FEATHERSTONE added a pair of buckets off the bench to give St. Edward's a 35-32 halftime lead. 
 
St. Edward's defense was stellar, especially at the point of attack, forcing Maci Maddox into an 0-for-5 shooting half and three Grace Foster turnovers despite foul trouble for the Hilltoppers' starting frontcourt of MIKAH CHAPMAN and AINSLEY THUNELL, recording three each. 
 
The Hilltoppers played stellar defense early in the third quarter, moving their feet, cutting off angles, and forcing Lubbock Christian to shoot over the top of defenders. Despite their shooting struggles, it was enough to sustain the lead, getting two strong drives from J.P. in transition in the first five minutes for a pair of free throws and a layup. Bennett earned a trip to the line with 4:54 remaining in the third, hitting both for a 41-36 lead. 
 
Unfortunately for St. Edward's, the Hilltoppers quickly picked up several fouls, including the fourth on Chapman and Thunell, and fell into the bonus early, which Lubbock Christian capitalized on.
 
Tia Johnson got to the free-throw line eight times, hitting six, on her way to a career-high 13 points off the bench. J.P. left the game with 4:08 remaining in the quarter and a 41-37 lead and the Lady Chaps quickly reeled off a 9-0 run to take a six-point lead until Robledo hit a pull-up jumper to bring the Hilltoppers to within 48-44 heading into the fourth. Lubbock Christian shot just 4-for-13 from the field but 7-for-10 from the free-throw line in the quarter. 
 
ISABEL LANGENBERG made a critical offensive rebound and short jumper midway through the fourth, and Bennett hit another to stay within four. The Hilltopper defense kicked in and forced a shot clock violation, followed by a free throw from Chapman to pull within three with 2:06 remaining. 
 
Thunell answered a pair of Foster free throws with a turnaround jumper, and Bennett answered a Foster jumper with a pair of free throws. J.P. followed with a steal on the other end, taking the ball from Foster, and drew a foul to cut the deficit to one after making two free throws with 12 seconds remaining.
 
Lubbock Christian called timeout to advance the ball, inbounding to Foster. J.P. wrapped up Lubbock Christian's all-conference forward to stop the clock. Foster threw herself to the ground, drawing chuckles from the Lubbock Christian broadcast crew, calling it an obvious embellishment, and a flagrant on J.P. from the officials. 
 
Foster hit both, and Lady Chaps inbounded the ball and hit another two to end the game. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 3-5 this season with four losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents. The Hilltoppers will hit the road to play Western Colorado on Monday.