RAPID CITY, S.D. — St. Edward's spent the first seven quarters of its South Dakota swing searching for its identity, then threw the questions aside and answered with something simpler: an unshakable refusal to lose. The Hilltoppers outscored South Dakota Mines 41–21 across the fourth quarter and overtime to steal an 85–79 comeback win.

It's still early for a team integrating new offensive schemes and two new starters. For two years, St. Edward's ran a ball-screen-heavy attack built around J.P.'s shot creation. With the junior point guard sidelined, the reins now belong to SUNI DAVIS, while sophomore center KENDALL BECK gives the Hilltoppers skill sets they simply haven't had in recent seasons.

Growing pains were inevitable, and through two games St. Edward's has weathered a few big quarters. Sunday's came in the second, when the Hardrockers strung together a 9–0 run as part of a 26–16 frame. The Hilltoppers shot 4-for-15 in the quarter, surviving only through two RILEY MOORE 3-pointers and a handful of energy plays from Davis, MIKAH CHAPMAN, and KIARA COUNCIL to trim a 17-point deficit to 12 at the break.

South Dakota Mines shot a blistering 72.7 percent in the quarter, fueled by nine points off the bench from Carolina Ruiz Molina — matching the nine from Addison Miranda — to build a 42–30 lead. Davis and Moore scored six apiece for St. Edward's.

The Hardrockers stretched the margin to 18 early in the third with a surge from Morning Grace Spotted Bear, who scored seven on 3-for-4 shooting in the period. But even as St. Edward's continued to scuffle from the field (4-for-12), the Hilltoppers planted their comeback on the defensive end. They forced six turnovers, turned them into a 7–0 advantage in points off giveaways, and got a pair of momentum-swinging blocks from JASMYN JACKSON.

Down 14 entering the fourth, St. Edward's finally let go of the overthinking and simply played. Moore opened with a 3-pointer off a Davis kick-out, Davis drilled her own the next trip, and suddenly the Hilltoppers had oxygen. Davis followed with two free throws after another Jackson block and then buried a third 3-pointer to punctuate an 11–0 run.

South Dakota Mines momentarily steadied itself with a Spotted Bear triple and a three-point play from Savea Mansfield. But by then Chapman had tapped into that bottomless energy reservoir she seems to carry everywhere.

Chapman ripped Mansfield for a steal and a fast-break layup, hit two free throws the next time down, then finished through contact off a Davis feed for a three-point play — slicing the deficit to 64–62 with four minutes left.

Davis answered one Molina free throw by threading a pass to Beck inside for a layup, then answered another with a 3-pointer off a Beck kick-out to give St. Edward's its first lead. A Beck steal and coast-to-coast finish pushed it to three.

The teams traded baskets from there, and two missed Hilltopper layups in the final seconds sent the game to overtime.
In the extra period, St. Edward's defense tightened, holding the Hardrockers to 2-for-10 shooting with three turnovers. KIANA BENNETT scored twice, Moore added another bucket, and Jackson and RAMSEY ROBLEDO combined to knock down five free throws to close it out.

Davis led all scorers with 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting, adding four assists to just one turnover. Chapman scored seven of her 10 points in the fourth quarter, Jackson tallied 11 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks while going 9-for-11 from the line, and Moore provided 11 off the bench on 3-for-4 shooting from deep.

With the win, St. Edward's splits its opening-weekend road trip and now heads to Colorado for a Tuesday matchup at Fort Lewis College on Nov. 18.