DENTON — The St. Mary's University Women's Basketball team overcame a slow start to take a lead late, but No. 4 Texas Woman's made its final five free throws to escape with a narrow 59-53 victory on Tuesday night.
After being outscored 20-9 in the first quarter, the Rattlers (7-1, 2-1 Lone Star) responded by matching the Pioneers (8-1, 3-0 LSC) in the second quarter, 13-13, and then outscoring them 20-9 in the third quarter to enter the final stanza tied at 42-42.
StMU took a 46-44 lead on a putback by sophomore forward
Christin Callens (Houston) with 8:39 remaining, and neither team scored for the next two minutes. After a TWU free throw, senior
Imani Ivery (Houston), in her first game back after missing three due to injury, drained a three-pointer with 6:09 on the clock for the 49-45 advantage. The Pioneers used a seven-point scoring run to build a 52-49 lead with 3:25 left and then made late free throws for the 59-53 final.
Callens led all players with 16 points and had a team-high eight rebounds, while blocking two shots and collecting one steal.
Senior
Quezia Bertoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil), in her first start of the season, scored 12 points with six coming at the free throw line as she was fouled seven times. She chipped in a team-high tying three assists with three rebounds.
Sophomore
Lena Newby (Cibolo, Texas) led the game with a career-high three blocked shots as the Rattlers out-blocked the Pioneers 8-to-5. Sophomore
Raynne Malik (London, Ontario) added two, tying for team-high honors with three assists and leading the club with two steals.
The starters for Texas Woman's scored all but two of the team's 59 points, with four of the starters ending in double figures. Averee Kleinhans led with 14 points, while a trio of others added 12.
It is the first loss of the season for the Rattlers, marking the best start in school history.
The Rattlers step out of LSC action on Thursday, hosting Central Oklahoma in the final non-conference game of the season at Bill Greehey Arena. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
