AUSTIN, Texas  Tied just a few minutes into the third quarter, host St. Edward's University embarked on a 12-0 run from which visiting Western Colorado was unable to complete a late rally in a 68-58 defeat to the Hilltoppers Tuesday in the closing game of their Thanksgiving Tournament.

Western and St. Edward's had each won their opening game of the tournament on Monday, with the Tuesday matchup proving to be a de-facto championship bout.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: St. Edward's def. Western Colorado, 68-58
Records: Western 2-2, St. Edwards 4-2
Location: Recreation and Athletics Center, Austin, Texas

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hilltoppers' 12-0 run broke a 32-32 tie, with a Jayda Maves layup the equalizer early in the third quarter.
• SEU had forged a 20-11 advantage early in the second quarter, but the Mountaineers began chipping away at the deficit, finally pulling back within a point (22-21) after Ivey Schmidt's pull-up jumper with a little more than three minutes left in the half.
• St. Edward's was able to extend the lead to five (28-23) at the half, but the Mountaineers had earned some momentum during their second quarter spurt.
• The team's traded opening buckets in the third quarter, but a Chloe Daniels layup and a Penelope Urquhart steal and layup enabled Western to pull even at 30-30.
• Each team scored on their next possession (32-32) but 12 unanswered points by the Hilltoppers broke the deadlock and turned into a deficit Western couldn't completely erase over the remaining minutes of the third and fourth quarters.

COURT NOTES

• Three Mountaineers reached double figures in scoring, paced by Schmidt's 14-point afternoon. Daniels would add 12 points and Maves 11 in the loss.
• The Hilltoppers were a two-person wrecking crew as Suni Davis, with 24 points, and 18 from Mikah Chapman combined for 42 of the team's 68 points.
• Urquhart's nine rebounds were a game high as Western finished with a 36-30 advantage off the rim. Five Mountaineers had at least four rebounds and all nine players that saw court time came away with at least one.
• Free throws, especially those down the stretch as Western was trying to claw back in the waning minutes, favored St. Edward's, which went the line 19 times and converted 15 of those free opportunities. Western finished the game 7-of-12 from the stripe.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with their next game, taking on host Colorado Christian University on Dec. 4 followed by a trip to Colorado State Pueblo on Dec. 6.