Box Score
SAN ANTONIO — After her sophomore campaign last season, forward
Morgan Pullins set a personal goal to average 10 points per game as a junior.
So far this season, she's done one better, averaging a double-double.
Wednesday was no different for Pullins (Franklin, Mich.) in the Rattlers' blowout win over Texas Woman's, 72-57, as she racked up her fourth double-double on the season.
Pullins led the day in scoring with 19 points to go along with 15 rebounds while also being dominant on defense, totaling four blocks and two steals.
"I'm an older player now," said Pullins who's averaging 10.8 rebounds and 14.3 points per contest. "I'm a junior now so I'm just trying to step it up."
Pullins was one of four Rattlers to break double-digits against the Pioneers (3-3) with
Jackie Woods (Sr., San Antonio) and
Lia Kioa (Sr., Phoenix) both scoring 15 points apiece while
Kyra Littlejohn (Jr., Southfield, Mich.) chipped in 10.
Woods was also effective across the court, totaling five steals as well as a season-high seven assists.
A buzzer beater layup from Kioa brought the Rattlers to a nine-point lead going into the half, 30-21, foreshadowing a dominant performance in the final frame.
"We weren't satisfied with the first half," said Pullins of the Rattlers' tight first frame that at one point had them trailing by three. "We were very motivated to step up and that was our motivation throughout the whole second half as a team and we all stepped it up."
Littlejohn was one of several Rattlers who took up the challenge, finding success in her first career start with a double-digit ending that saw her go 6-7 at the line and record one steal.
As a team, the Rattlers were able to push their led to 17 with four minutes remaining in the game after trekking on an 8-0 run. Littlejohn and Woods were the spark in the second with Littlejohn hitting eight of her total 10 points in the second half and Woods banking 13 of her 15 total points also in the second half alone.
St. Mary's improved to 5-1 on the season with the victory over Texas Woman's, staying unscathed at Bill Greehey Arena with an undefeated home record.
The Rattlers will remain at home to take on St. Thomas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bill Greehey Arena.
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.rattlerathletics.com.
