AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball generated several opportunities via effort but did not convert down the stretch of a 64-57 loss to the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas. 
 
The St. Edward's defense did its job early with a quick pair of steals, getting a BAILEY FEATHERSTONE layup and 6-0 run to start the game. Defensive rebounds triggered transition and early-offense opportunities with point guard JANIAH PERKINS setting the pace. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville stabilized itself with a pair of early 3-pointers and two other buckets from Georgia Ohiaeri, but the Hilltoppers closed the quarter with an offensive rebound leading to two free throws from MIKAH CHAPMAN, and a steal and coast-to-coast layup from CELISE BOBBITT to give the Hilltoppers an 18-15 lead after the first quarter. 
 
Both teams exchanged buckets through the second quarter with the Javelinas taking their first lead at 29-27 on a Bella Sipowicz free throw with 3:28 remaining. 
 
RONNIE CANTU returned from injury after missing the previous few games and quickly found ISABEL LANGENBERG for a 3-pointer. JAYDA RUFFUS-MILNER responded to Texas A&M-Kingsville scores with a pair of offensive rebounds, leading to a pair of free throws, then finding Featherstone for a short jumper and a 33-33 tie at the half. 
 
J.P. led all scorers at the half with 11 points and Featherstone was next with nine. The Hilltoppers recorded four steals and outscored the Javelinas 10-2 on fast breaks at the half. Shelby Ray led Texas A&M-Kingsville with eight points off the bench, and four other Javelinas recorded five points each, staying alive with 4-for-5 shooting from deep. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville opened the second half nearly exactly as St. Edward's opened the first, creating two turnovers and a 6-0 run. Veyda Lake used her size in the paint for three early buckets. The Hilltoppers' forward trio of AINSLEY THUNELL, Ruffus-Milner, and Featherstone responded with a bucket each, and LAUREN CATHERMAN recorded a steal and coast-to-coast layup to bring St. Edward's all the way back at 41-41, but the Javelinas closed the quarter out on a 7-4 run to take a 48-45 lead into the fourth. 
 
St. Edward's created multiple opportunities in the fourth quarter, but did not capitalize on all of them and Texas A&M-Kingsville took advantage to build and maintain a slight lead.
 
Jayde Schritter opened the fourth with a 3-pointer and driving layup while the Hilltoppers failed to capitalize on two offensive rebounds and scored only one free throw on a four-free-throw possession to stay down three at 57-54. A quick steal gave way into a faster turnover, and the Javelinas slowly extended their lead over the final two minutes. 
 
St. Edward's shot 3-for-8 from the free-throw line in the fourth and committed five turnovers, getting outscored 16-12 over the final ten minutes. 
 
J.P. led St. Edward's with 17 points, and Featherstone added 12. Bobbitt led the reserves with nine points. Ray led Texas A&M-Kingsville with 12 points, and Aina Maynou and Tschritter added ten each. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 7-12 with a 4-9 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host Texas A&M International on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.