Box Score
ODESSA, Texas — The Lady Rattlers succumbed for the first time in Heartland Conference play, losing by eight to the University of Texas-Permian Basin on the road Thursday night.
Down to the final minutes, St. Mary's fought for a comeback and nearly forced overtime, but its shots didn't fall in time in the 68-60 loss.
The Rattlers were the team to beat, holding the only undefeated record in the league, and the loss Thursday night only put a small dent in that status. St. Mary's is still atop the conference, only now tying for the top rank with Thursday's victor, the Falcons (13-5, 6-1 in conference).
Leading the way for the Rattlers (14-5, 6-1 in conference) was
Felicia Jacobs (Sr., San Antonio) with 17 points, followed by
Jackie Woods (Jr., San Antonio) with 16. Woods added a team-high three steals.
Lia Kioa (Jr., Phoenix) chipped in nine points and
Bria Bell (Jr., San Antonio) and
Morgan Pullins (So., Franklin, Mich.) each scored seven points apiece.
Down by seven at the half, 31-24, the Rattlers picked it up in the second to nearly outscore the Falcons, 36-37. In atypical style for the Rattlers this season, the squad trailed from the first Falcon bucket, a 3-pointer from Teisha King, who ended the night with 28 points.
In their largest lead of the battle between the top teams in conference, the Falcons hedged the Rattlers 50-37 with nine minutes remaining in the game. But St. Mary's was able to snap back and with a 3-pointer and layup from Woods that brought it to within four, 59-55, with 3:38 remaining. The Falcons didn't fade, however, closing it out in the final minutes with a 3-pointer, one of their nine on the night, and four free throws from King.
St. Mary's and UTPB split the season's series, as the Lady Rattlers won 74-63 on their home floor earlier in the month.
Now on a two-game losing streak after winning six straight, the Rattlers must regroup quickly in order to remain tied or to possibly even pull back into sole possession of the top spot in conference.
The Rattlers will finish their two-game road trip Saturday against Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men's basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men's golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men's golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary's also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary's student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.stmarytx.edu/athletics.
