BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — KIANA BENNETT and KENDALL BECK proved an effective one-two punch for St. Edward's, balancing perimeter and post play for a 71-56 victory over the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon to open the Puerto Rico Clasico. 
 
Bennett led St. Edward's with 16 points, six rebounds, and three steals, hitting 2-for-3 from deep, and Beck added 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals. 
 
Puerto Rico-Bayamon's Abeliz Rodriguez opened the game scorching hot, pouring in 10 first-quarter points on 4-for-6 shooting, leading the Cowgirls to an early 16-12 lead. The Hilltoppers responded with a 6-0 run to close the quarter, sparked by back-to-back fastbreak layups from Bennett and RILEY MOORE, and a pair of free throws from Beck for the 18-16 lead.
 
Bennett and Beck combined for 13 of St. Edward's 25 points in the second quarter, pushing the Hilltopper lead to as much as 14, with backup center JASMYN JACKSON adding five. St. Edward's outscored the Cowgirls 14-6 in the paint and 9-2 in bench points to take a 43-31 lead into the break. 
 
St. Edward's defense kicked into high gear out of the break, limiting Puerto Rico to 2-for-12 shooting while Bennett paced a balanced scoring attack with five points in the third, pushing the lead to 60-43 heading into the fourth. 
 
Rodriguez scored eight in the fourth quarter, but the Hilltopper lead remained comfortably in double figures. MIKAH CHAPMAN, Moore, and Jackson each scored eight points, with Chapman grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 7-3 on the season and will play InterAmerican Puerto Rico tomorrow morning at 10:00 to close the Puerto Rico Clasico.