FORT SMITH, Ark. – A slow start was too much to overcome for the St. Edward's women's basketball team in a 75-50 loss to the Arkansas Fort Smith Lions. 
 
Seven Lions scored in the opening quarter, led by Riley Hayes and Baylee Fincher's six points each. Arkansas Fort Smith turned six of St. Edward's turnovers into 11 points and shots 10-for-16 from the field while the Hilltoppers struggled through a 2-for-12 start to trail 26-8 after the first quarter. 
 
St. Edward's established itself on the glass with eight offensive rebounds in the second quarter and a pair of 3-pointers off the bench from ISABEL LANGENBERG. Still, Hayes continued her scoring burst with nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the 3-point line in the quarter to give Arkansas Fort Smith a 46-22 lead at the half. 
 
The Hilltopper defense found its footing in the third quarter, limiting the Lions to 4-for-18 shooting, and BAILEY FEATHERSTONE and CELISE BOBBITT scored four each, but Arkansas Fort Smith expanded its lead by one with an 11-10 quarter. 
 
St. Edward's offense found its rhythm with 18 fourth-quarter points, led by six points on three shots from AINSLEY THUNELL. Langenberg added four off the bench, and the Hilltoppers outscored Arkansas Fort Smith 14-4 in the paint. 
 
Featherstone led three Hilltoppers in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds. Thunell and Langenberg added ten each, with Bobbitt scoring seven. Hayes led all scorers with 23 points for Arkansas Fort Smith, shooting 7-for-11 from deep. 
 
St. Edward's falls to 7-16 with a 4-13 conference record. The Hilltoppers will remain on the road to play Oklahoma Christian on Saturday.