Women's Basketball Falters Against #15 Orediggers

SAN ANTONIO – With a new coach and six newcomers, St. Mary's Women's Basketball fans knew there were going to be some learning curves early in the season and on Saturday, the team fought back valiantly from a slow start but fell 86-45 to #15 Colorado School of Mines on Saturday afternoon.
 
Senior Tonia Bilic (Zagreb, Croatia) was one of 10 Rattlers (1-1) scoring between two and nine points, leading the way for the second-straight contest. She hit two of the team's four three-pointers on the day. 
 
True freshman Gabby Elliott (San Antonio) grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, coming off the bench to spark the Gold & Blue.
 
The Rattlers had several high points in the game as they recorded 11 assists on 15 made baskets, junior Teanna Huggins (San Antonio) collected three steals and senior Natalia Ryng (Gdynia, Poland) notched a career-high four assists.
 
The Orediggers (2-0) scored 12 of the first 14 points in the game, and led 19-7 after the first quarter and 43-16 at halftime, but the Rattlers scored 20 points in the third quarter, including eight by Bilic as she came out on fire from the locker room.
 
The Rattlers struggled from the free throw line, making just 11-of-27 attempts (40.7 percent) and they turned the ball over 26 times after having just nine in the opener.
 
The good news is the team remains at home for three more contests, hosting Our Lady of the Lake on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Dallas Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m.