TYLER, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball opened its road trip with a loss to No. 14-ranked UT Tyler, falling 60-45 to the Patriots. 
 
KIANA BENNETT led St. Edward's with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, and AINSLEY THUNELL added 11 and four, but the Hilltoppers struggled from the field. 
 
Bennett opened with the game's first four points, scoring on an offensive rebound on the game's first possession and driving layup. UT Tyler responded with an 8-0 run generated by Polina Latysheva, assisting on one 3-pointer, scoring a driving layup, and hitting a 3-pointer. Thunell and Bennett accounted for all nine Hilltopper points in the first quarter, and UT Tyler took a 16-9 lead. 
 
Meagan Mendazona led a 15-9 second quarter with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting, St. Edward's shot 4-for-16 from the field, and the Patriots took a 31-18 lead into the half. Mendazona led all scorers with 15 points, and Bennett and Thunell combined for 11 for St. Edward's. 
 
St. Edward's frontcourt gave the Hilltoppers a foothold on offense in the third quarter, combining for 10 points on six shots, but Mendazona remained steady with six points, and Tianna Knighton added four off the bench to take a 45-29 lead into the fourth. 
 
J.P. found her rhythm in the fourth, scoring seven points on five shots with two assists, and Bennett added five to help the Hilltoppers outscore the Patriots 16-15 in the final quarter. 
 
St. Edward's falls to 6-10 with a 2-5 conference record. The Hilltoppers will remain on the road and face No. 2-ranked Texas Woman's University on Saturday.