Box Score SAN ANTONIO — In a game that never found an offensive rhythm but was full of resolve in the margins, the Hilltoppers won by the slimmest of them — outlasting St. Mary's 42-41 in a game literally decided by inches.
Just two weeks ago, St. Edward's won with a final defensive possession in the closing seconds on its home floor. The game opened with both teams full of similar urgency before either team had a chance to settle into the moment.
The result was a rough shooting first quarter for both teams, setting the tone for the Hilltoppers and Rattlers spending the next 30 minutes trading control with nine lead changes, six ties, and a lead that never extended beyond six either way.
A pair of 3-pointers gave St. Mary's a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter before
SUNI DAVIS stabilized the Hilltopper offense with a trip to the free-throw line and a pair of assists to
KENDALL BECK and Kiana Bennet in the second. Bennett added a pair of free throws to finish with eight points at the break on 3-for-7 shooting for the 18-16 halftime lead, while Allie Garcia kept the Rattlers within striking distance on a pair of 3-pointers.
St. Edward's found its footing up front to start the second half, getting a combined 10 points up front from
JAE'LA HICKS and
MIKAH CHAPMAN in the third. Chapman opened the quarter with a tip-in, followed by Hicks' short jumper to extend the lead to six. Hicks kept the margin there for the first six minutes, answering St. Mary's scores with a layup and a pair of free throws.
The Rattlers followed with a 7-0 run late on a 3-pointer from Petyon Stellato and a pair of buckets from Malik Raynne to take the lead with 1:56 remaining, but Chapman ended it with a pull-up jumper, and Davis closed the quarter with a pair of free throws to go into the fourth up two.
Both teams ramped up defensive pressure at the start of the fourth, causing chaos and creating turnovers.
JASMINE FARMER broke the lid on the basket with a big driving layup, then drew an offensive foul, while Chapman added a turnaround jumper to go up four with 5:58 remaining.
St. Mary's turned to Malik down the stretch, getting four tough baskets and three free throws for seven fourth-quarter points.
RAMSEY ROBLEDO responded with a clutch 3-pointer against her former team to reclaim the lead with 2:49 remaining, and Hicks answered a Malik layup with her own driving layup through contact, calmly sinking the clutch free throw for the 3-point play.
Both teams split free throws down the stretch, with Bennett sinking one with five seconds remaining for a three-point lead. Maynou took the inbounds pass and raced to the length of the floor, taking one step too many in burying a buzzer-beating heave with her foot on the 3-point line, ending the game a point short.
Hicks led St. Edward's with 12 points and seven rebounds, making her mark on the longtime rivalry in just her fourth collegiate start. Bennett added nine points, and Chapman finished with eight and seven boards.
And in the end, it came down to inches — one step too many, one point too few — and just enough from the Hilltoppers to walk out of San Antonio with it.
