AUSTIN, Texas – A significant third-quarter run from West Texas A&M offset a brilliant first-half performance from the St. Edward's women's basketball team in an 82-68 Hilltopper loss.
 
JANIAH PERKINS scored a career-high 25 points on a scorching-hot 8-for-13 shooting, getting to the paint at will and to the free-throw line the rest of the time, where she shot 8-for-12. 
 
J.P. set the tone in the first quarter, driving for a layup after a LAUREN CATHERMAN steal on the game's first possession. Later, she turned defenders in circles multiple times while pushing the ball in transition with the expertise of a slalom skier for an early layup-and-foul. A few possessions later, she gave St. Edward's the 16-15 lead with a sharp crossover and layup through contact for a second 3-point play. 
 
MIKAH CHAPMAN added two short-range jumpers, and St. Edward's jumped to a 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. 
 
St. Edward's carried the momentum into the second quarter with a 13-2 run headed by J.P. and Chapman's nine combined points punctuated by a J.P. steal and fast-break dish to Chapman for the layup and a 33-19 lead with 4:22 remaining in the half, forcing a West Texas A&M timeout. 
 
The Lady Buffs steadied themselves out of the timeout, closing the half on a 7-0 run to pull within 35-28 at the break. 
 
J.P. led all scorers at the half with 13 points on seven shots, MIKAH CHAPMAN scored eight, and Catherman set the table with four assists. Nyalam Thabach led West Texas A&M with eight points.
 
West Texas A&M opened the second half with the same momentum it closed the first with, reeling off an 11-0 run to start the third, making it 18 unanswered points to take a 39-35 lead. Grace Alvarez led the charge with 11 points, and the Hilltoppers struggled from the field, shooting just 5-for-15 to fall behind 59-48 heading into the third. 
 
St. Edward's cut the lead to single-digits a little more than halfway through the fourth behind eight points from J.P., doing most of her damage from the free-throw line, but Thabach, Azia Himeur, and Alvarez combined for 18 points to keep St. Edward's at bay. 
 
The Hilltoppers drop to 8-18 with a 5-15 conference record after the loss. St. Edward's will travel to San Antonio to play St. Mary's