AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball played Lubbock Christian on near-even terms but couldn't overcome the Lady Chaps statistical advantage from beyond the 3-point line in a 66-58 loss. 
 
Lubbock Christian entered the game as the third most accurate 3-point shooting team in the nation and punished the Hilltoppers for going under screens early with a pick-and-pop 3-pointer to Grace Foster on one possession, then a pull-up from deep by Maci Maddox off a ball-screen for the 12-10 lead. 
 
St. Edward's countered with an adjustment in their starting lineup, turning to MIKAH CHAPMAN. The sophomore forward answered the call with two early jumpers as part of an early 8-4 Hilltoppers lead. 
 
The Hilltoppers' lineup change also opened different real estate on the court for AINSLEY THUNELL, who took advantage with a nine-point quarter, hitting all four of her shots. The junior forward drove for a layup, hit a top-of-the-key 3-pointer, scored a putback, and hit a layup off a brilliant pass from point guard JANIAH PERKINS. 
 
J.P. closed the quarter strong on a mini-run for the Hilltoppers, finding Ruffus-Milner for a layup, then splitting the defense with a Eurostep layup to give the Hilltoppers a 19-18 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
 
Lubbock Christian continued with a pick-your-poison approach in the second quarter, spacing the floor to create driving lanes for layups and hitting the 3-pointer when presented with an open look, hitting its first three shots to take a 25-19 lead before LAUREN CATHERMAN stopped the run with a stepback 3-pointer from the corner. 
 
Thunell re-entered the game and stabilized the defense with her length and mobility, deterring dribble penetration on ball screens and closing out to the pick-and-pop without surrendering the driving angle. With the defense set, the Hilltoppers reeled off a 6-0 run with a putback from BAILEY FEATHERSTONE, a transition layup off a defensive rebound from J.P., and a Catherman steal and layup to tie the game at 28. 
 
St. Edward's closed the half with a pair of ISABEL LANGENBERG free throws and a Chapman steal and layup for the 34-33 halftime lead. 
 
Both teams exchanged six made field goals in the third quarter, but Lubbock Christian carved out a mathematical advantage leaning on its 3-pointer, outscoring St. Edward's 12-0 from beyond the 3-point line as part of an 18-13 third quarter. 
 
Thunell continued to provide scoring punch from the frontcourt for St. Edward's, working off-ball for a layup off a feed from Chapman, an offensive putback, and a jumper from J.P. for six third-quarter points. Taylor Thomas led Lubbock Christian with a pair of 3-pointers, and Maddox and Robertson added a 3-pointer each to give LCU the 49-45 lead after three. 

An early 5-0 run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter pushed Lubbock Christian up nine, its largest lead of the final 10 minutes. Lubbock Christian utilized a balanced attack, scoring 10 of its 15 fourth-quarter points in the paint and hitting 7-for-12 from the field. 
 
St. Edward's missed a few opportunities, shooting 4-for-13 from the field to get outscored 15-11 in the quarter. 
 
Thunell and J.P. led St. Edward's with 15 points and nine rebounds. Thunell was ultra-efficient, hitting 7-for-9 from the field while playing solid defensively. Chapman finished with nine points and five rebounds. Audrey Robertson led LCU with 19 points and five assists. Maddox added 16, and Foster finished with 12. 
 
St. Edward's shot 25-for-57 from the field, and Lubbock Christian hit 27-for-53, including 8-for-19 from deep to finish 50.9 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from the 3-point line. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 8-17 with a 5-14 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host West Texas A&M on Saturday.