EDMOND, Okla. — St. Edward's battled through a back-and-forth first half and briefly carried momentum into the break, but Oklahoma Christian used a decisive third quarter to pull away and hand the Hilltoppers an 82-70 loss Monday evening at the Eagles' Nest.

The Hilltoppers (12-13, 6-11 LSC) showed resilience early after a slow start. Oklahoma Christian opened the game shooting efficiently and built a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, holding St. Edward's to 20 percent shooting in the opening ten minutes.

St. Edward's responded with its strongest stretch of the night in the second quarter. The Hilltoppers found rhythm offensively behind aggressive drives and steady free-throw shooting, eventually taking a 40-37 lead into halftime. MIKAH CHAPMAN and JAE'LA HICKS provided key interior scoring, while RAMSEY ROBLEDO knocked down a three-pointer and contributed across the stat sheet to help fuel the surge.

The momentum shifted after the break.

Oklahoma Christian shot 61.5 percent in the third quarter and used a series of second-chance opportunities and paint finishes to outscore St. Edward's 26-16 in the period. The Eagles turned defensive stops into transition chances and built a 63-56 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

St. Edward's continued to fight, cutting into the margin behind free throws and timely baskets, but Oklahoma Christian maintained control down the stretch. The Eagles extended their lead to as many as 16 in the fourth quarter and closed out the 12-point victory.

Chapman led the Hilltoppers with 15 points and six rebounds on efficient shooting, while Hicks added 16 points and four rebounds in her first start. Robledo finished with 15 points and four assists, and SUNI DAVIS contributed 14 points, five assists, and made 11 free throws.

St. Edward's shot 81.3 percent from the free-throw line and kept the game close for much of the first half, but Oklahoma Christian's efficiency—51.9 percent from the field—and a 46-22 advantage in points in the paint proved decisive.

The Hilltoppers will look to regroup as they continue Lone Star Conference play.