CANYON, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball surrendered a 28-14 run in the fourth quarter of a 73-62 loss to the West Texas A&M Lady Buffaloes to close the two-game road trip. 
 
J.P. led four starters in double figures with 16 points and four assists, but Randi Harding and Taylor Haggan combined for 30 points, and West Texas A&M outscored St. Edward's 23-9 in bench points. 
 
St. Edward's jumped to an early 6-point lead, but the West Texas A&M sparked the Lady Buffs with four points each from Hollie Stalder and Gloria Fornah, and a 3-pointer from Grace Alvarez and Chloe Calahan for the 16-8 lead. 
 
J.P. went off for eight points on 4-for-7 shooting and two assists in the second quarter, and the Hilltopper defense dug in, limiting West Texas A&M to 1-for-8 shooting with eight turnovers. AINSLEY THUNELL anchored the defense with four steals, leading to six fastbreak points for the 32-25 halftime lead. 
 
St. Edward's maintained its lead through the third quarter, going up 42-34 on a 3-pointer from KIANA BENNETT with 5:37 remaining. West Texas A&M slowly chipped away at it from the free-throw line, going 8-for-10 to pull within three at 48-45 heading into the fourth. 
 
The Hilltoppers had an early 4-0 scoring run, but West Texas A&M's Harding and Haggan combined for 17 points in the fourth, reeling off 11 consecutive points in the closing minutes to pull away. 
 
MIKAH CHAPMAN and Bennett each scored 11 points. Thunell posted 10 points, seven steals, and four rebounds. 
 
St. Edward's falls to 11-18 with a 7-12 conference record. The Hilltoppers will close the season with two games against St. Mary's.