Women's Basketball Mounts Comeback Victory Over Lions

SAN ANTONIO – It was a tale of two halves for the St. Mary's University Women's Basketball team on Thursday night against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
The Rattlers (3-12, 3-6 Lone Star Conference) entered the locker room at halftime trailing 36-23, but outscored the Lions (5-11, 3-7 Lone Star) 36-to-21 in the second half to snap a seven-game losing skid and win 59-57.
 
A big reason for the comeback was freshman Taylor Haggan (Parker, Texas), who scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half and brought down nine of her 10 rebounds after the break. The double-double is the third of her career and it's the fifth time she's tallied 20 or more points in a game.
 
The Rattlers' defense also locked down on Hannah Boyett and Riley Hayes, allowing them to combine for only eight points in the second half after they outscored StMU in the first half with 28 combined.
 
In addition to Haggan, senior guard Ariah Powell (Detroit, Mich.) scored in double figures with 11. Senior Teanna Huggins (San Antonio) led the game with four assists and Haggan tied for game-high honors with three blocked shots – including one in the final minute to help secure the victory.
 
StMU led for only 1:25 of the 40 minutes and the game was never tied, though it featured three lead changes.
 
The Rattlers wrap up their four-game homestand hosting Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Eagles dropped a 64-52 decision at St. Edward's on Thursday evening.
 
NEWS & NOTES

• In all three of Taylor Haggan's double-doubles, she has scored 20 points. Her five 20-point games are now tied for second in school history for 20-point contests by a freshman, knotting Soteria Banks (2017-18) and she is two shy of tying the record by Hall of Famer Erin Griffin (2000-01).
• All five starters for the Rattlers scored at least four points and grabbed at least three rebounds.
• The first rebound of the game for Haggan was the 100th of her career. She now has 109.
• Freshman Ramsey Robledo (San Antonio) scored her 100th point of the season, becoming the third player on the team with 100. Senior Ariah Powell also hit 100 for the season moments later.