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Scoreboard

Morgan Pullins
Antonio Morano Photography
Morgan Pullins scored a career-high 32 points and pulled in 10 rebounds against TWU. (File Photo)
61
St. Mary's STMUWB 2-1
65
Winner Texas Woman's TWU 2-1
St. Mary's STMUWB
2-1
61
Final
65
Texas Woman's TWU
2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Mary's STMUWB 14 47 61
Texas Woman's TWU 37 28 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | RattlerAthletics.com

Rattlers bring 28-point deficit down to wire with Texas Woman's

By Robin Johnson | St. Mary's Athletics Communications 

DENTON, Texas — The phrase "night and day" might as well be changed to No. 25 St. Mary's Women's Basketball's first and second halves against Texas Woman's at the Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere opener Friday night.
 
The Rattlers fell by just four gut-wrenching points, 65-61, to the Pioneers after clawing back from a 28-point deficit to nearly topple TMU in its home opener, led by a masterful performance from Rattler Morgan Pullins who scored 32 points with 10 rebounds.
 
With five seconds remaining in the game, Kiara Etheridge knocked down the biggest three of the night to bring the Rattlers within three, 64-61, after the Rattlers scored 10 points over 26 seconds, positively shocking the Pioneers who enjoyed a 37-14 lead at the half.
 
A purposeful foul brought the Pioneers' (2-1) Ashley Salazar to the line with 0.7 seconds remaining as she knocked down one to bring the score to 65-61. The Rattlers tried to pull off a less-than-last-second-shot off Kealani Marquez's defensive rebound but time expired and the Pioneers escaped a daunting comeback by a fierce Rattler squad in the second half.
 
The Rattlers went from a 14-point first half to a 47-point final half, outscoring the Pioneers 47-28 while bringing their field goal percentage up from 17 percent to 33 percent over the two halves.
 
Pullins (Sr., Franklin, Mich.) was the Rattlers' spark in the first half, scoring 11 of the team's 14 points to only heat up more in the second, scoring 21 points to set a new career-high of 32 points that also ties for No. 5 in the program for most points in a single game. Pullins led both squads with her 32 points and 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
 
Etheridge (So., San Antonio) and Dezirae Elias (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.) also led the comeback-attack, scoring their total of 11 and 10 points, respectively, all in the second half.   
 
The incredible last-half comeback was also fueled by a strong defensive effort that saw the Rattlers switch to full-court press and force 17 Pioneer turnovers in the second half alone.
 
Elias was the defensive stalwart, picking up nine total steals for the game with six in the second half to set the program's record for most steals in a single game. Marquez  (Fr., San Antonio) and Etheridge followed with three steals apiece.
 
Although the Rattlers (2-1) would likely soon forget their first half at Kitty Magee Arena Friday night, the tremendous surge in the second half shows a team with incredible fight that foreshadows a promising season ahead.
 
The Rattlers complete the Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere hosted by Texas Woman's at 4 p.m. Saturday against Midwestern State. 


 
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