Box Score
LAREDO, Texas — All previous Battle of the Saints fights were dismal compared to this.
Defining heartbreak, St. Mary's Women's Basketball dropped to rival St. Edward's in the Heartland Conference Championship game in overtime Saturday night, 83-71.
The game was hotter than usual in the clash as the Rattlers fought for their second straight conference title and to keep their 18-0 steak alive against St. Edward's while the Hilltoppers fought for the upset as the No. 4 -tournament seed.
There were few disparities across the stat sheet as both teams played on par with each other and both with everything they had.
The determination was apparent for
Jackie Woods (Sr., San Antonio) as she struck aggressively and passionately throughout the 45-minute title game, racking up a season-high 30 points.
Kiara Etheridge (Fr., San Antonio) followed with 11 points and
Dezirae Elias (So., Chandler, Ariz.) chipped in eight in surely the Rattlers' toughest game on the season and undoubtedly the toughest to swallow.
Honored after the game for their work throughout the tournament, Elias and Woods were both named Heartland Conference All-Tournament Team.
The Rattlers held the momentum in the first half, leading by 11 with 4:28 left in the half but the Hilltoppers struck quick, going into the break tied 35-35 and again tied in the final frame 67-67.
The game of momentum turned in the Hilltoppers' favor in overtime as they outscored the Rattlers 16-4, getting a surge of juice after scoring five points off free throws two minutes into extra play.
The tremendous game left the Hilltoppers zealous and pumped but NCAA Division II Women's Basketball hasn't seen the last of the St. Mary's Rattlers just yet.
The Rattlers will tune in Sunday to the NCAA's regional selection show to see if they will receive an at-large bid to the South Central Region Tournament.
St. Mary's entered the Heartland tournament ranked No. 6 in the region and will see if it and its 19-9 record will get once last chance to dance as the top eight ranked teams advance.
