Women's Basketball Throws Block Party in Lopsided Win

SAN ANTONIO — The St. Mary's University Women's Basketball team broke the school single-game record for blocked shots with 12 in its 63-38 victory over Sul Ross State on Saturday afternoon.
 
Both freshmen Raynne Malik (London, Ontario, Canada) and Lena Newby (Cibolo, Texas) blocked three shots each as the team swatted a dozen to break the old record of 11 from Jan. 31, 2022, against Western New Mexico. Eight different Rattlers blocked at least one shot, while the Lobos (2-5, 1-2) were unable to alter a single StMU shot.
 
On offense, the Rattlers (6-2, 2-0) used a balanced scoring attack as eight players had four or more points, with both freshman Christin Callens (Houston) and senior Stina Svilberg (Tallinn, Estonia) scoring 10 each. Callens also led the team with seven rebounds as all 12 players grabbed at least one board in winning the rebound battle 54-to-37.
 
Malik tied her career-high with nine points and grabbed six defensive rebounds, while junior Sheridan Kavanagh (Sydney, Australia) and freshman Daniela Ciscar (Valencia, Spain) also each grabbed six boards.
 
The Rattlers led wire-to-wire in their largest margin of victory of the season (+25) and the largest since a 63-point win over North American on Nov. 22, 2022.
 
Junior Imani Ivery (Houston) – in her first start of the season - and Andrea Montesinos (Valencia, Spain) each had three assists to tie for game-high honors, as the Rattlers dished out 14 assists on 25 baskets. 
 
The defense held the Lobos to single digits in scoring in both the first and third quarters, surrendering only six points each, while the offense scored 38 points in the pain, matching the Lobos total for the contest.
 
The 2-0 start in Lone Star Conference play is the first-ever for the Rattlers since joining the league in 2019-20. StMU also matches its win total from last season in the eighth game of the year.
 
St. Mary's heads out on the road, playing at fourth-ranked Lubbock Christian on Thursday, Dec. 12 and Midwestern State on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. The Rattlers close out the 2024 calendar year at Tarleton State on Dec. 21 in an exhibition game scheduled for 2 p.m.