RAPID CITY, S.D. — Three free throws in the final 16 seconds iced the game for the St. Mary's University Women's Basketball team in its season opener at South Dakota School of Mines, giving the Rattlers a 54-50 victory on Friday afternoon.
Junior guard
Brianna Vargas (El Paso, Texas) made quite the statement in her first game for the Rattlers (1-0), hitting five three-pointers in the first half for a team-high 15 points. She single-handedly kept the Rattlers in the game in the first half, scoring 15 of the team's 29 points. It is the most three-pointers in a half since Sydney Hardeman nailed eight in the second half at Texas A&M International on Feb. 3, 2022, and broke the school record with nine in that game.
Sophomore
Tiara Louis (San Antonio) took over the scoring mantle from Vargas in the second half, scoring nine of her 14 points after the break. She sank three triples in the game, tying her career high, and she added two assists.
Sophomore forward
Raynne Malik (London, Ontario) narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. She also blocked three shots and added two steals.
All 10 Rattlers who played grabbed at least one rebound as StMU out-rebounded the Rockers (0-1) 38-to-27 and capitalized on second chances, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds and turning them into 11 points. The Rattlers' defense also held the Rockers to six points in the second stanza, building a nine-point lead at the break, 29-20.
Morning Grace Spotted Bear led the game with 21 points and had a team-best seven rebounds and three steals in the loss. Savea Mansfield added 11 points as the Rockers used only seven players in the game.
St. Mary's remains in South Dakota, playing at Black Hills State on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Mountain)/1 p.m. (Central). The Yellow Jackets defeated St. Edward's 73-42 on Friday.
