Seniors Combine for 30 of WBB 59 Points in Austin

AUSTIN – St. Mary's Women's Basketball got a combined 30 points from fifth-year seniors Mya Culiver and Hannah Wilson, but it wasn't enough to overcome a late hot shooting streak from rival St. Edward's as the Rattlers fell on the road, 71-59 on Tuesday night.
 
After trailing by as many as 13, the Rattlers (1-15, 0-5 Lone Star) cut the deficit to six in the fourth quarter off a basket by Wilson (Fredericksburg, Texas) with 3:46 remaining, but could get no closer as SEU went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in the final 2:33 to put the game away, 71-59.
 
Wilson led the game with 19 points and added a game-high 14 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season. For the first time this season Culiver (Rockwall, Texas) scored in double figures, chipping in 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting and leading the team with four assists. Wilson also out-blocked one of the nation's best, Sammie Dufek, 3-to-2 on the night.
 
In her first-ever Battle of the Saints, freshman Faith Phillips (San Marcos, Texas) had a solid night, scoring eight points, grabbing six boards, stealing two balls and recording an assist – and she missed just one shot, going 4-for-5 from the field in 21 minutes of action.
 
St. Mary's out-rebounded St. Edward's (10-9, 3-5 LSC) 35-to-26 in the game and shot better from the field 46.7 percent to 45 percent. The difference in the game was beyond the arc, as the Rattlers made 3-for-9, while the Hilltoppers were 10-for-24.
 
Lauren Catherman led the Hilltoppers with 17 points, while Morgan Gary added 16. The two also combined for nine of the team's 17 assists and seven of the squad's 13 steals.
 
The Rattlers don't get much rest as they host Western New Mexico on Saturday and Cameron on Monday. Both games are slated to start at 2 p.m.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• Senior Mya Culiver scored in double figures for the first time, posting 11 on 3-of-5 shooting and a 5-for-7 day at the free throw line.
• Hannah Wilson returned to her double figure scoring ways and posted her 11th double-double of the year and 40th of her career with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
• Junior Sydney Hardeman (Allen, Texas) added two more three-pointers to her season total, giving her 41. She is just 10 shy of appearing in the school's top 10 for single season triples.
• The leader in the Lone Star Conference in rebounds per game, Hannah Wilson, needs just six more rebounds for 200 this season.
• The Rattlers gained one player back from protocols, so they had nine available for the game.