HOUSTON, Texas -- St. Thomas women's basketball team fell to No. 10 Our Lady of the Lake, 81-58, Thursday.
OLLU (19-4, 12-0 Red River Athletic Conference) recovered from a rough start, shooting 56 percent in the second half to open up a double-digit lead UST (8-10, 5-6) could not overcome.
The Celts held the nation's most prolific offense to four points through the first 5:30, and took a 13-5 lead on Zariah McInnis (SO/Richmond, TX)' runout at the 3:25 mark in the first quarter. UST led 14-9 after the first period. Our Lady of the Lake shot 3 of 22 in the period.
Alexya Castillo (FR/Cypress, TX) drained a triple 1:35 into the second quarter and then knocked down another jumper to put UST up, 21-9. OLLU responded with a 16-2 run to take a 25-23 lead on Lena Wilson's basket with 3:21 remaining in the half. The Saints canned four three-pointers during that stretch.
Our Lady of the Lake took a 30-27 lead into halftime.
Aerial Starks (FR/Houston, TX) knocked down a three 1:44 into the second half to tie the game at 30. The Saints pushed their lead out to seven, but Starks buried another triple, and Sheridan Hopkins (JR/Galveston, TX) hit a runner to pull UST within 40-38. The Saints outscored the Celts, 11-1, the rest of the third quarter to take a 51-39 lead into the final period.
The Saints extended their lead to 71-44 at the 6:16 mark in the fourth quarter when Destinee King scored in the paint. Hopkins converted a three-point play on a driving layup with 4:44 to go as the Celts cut it to 73-51. Yazmine Kellough (FR/Oak Ridge) banked a shot off the glass as UST got within, 79-58, but it was too little, too late.
Hopkins had 20 points and 11 rebounds for her 10th consecutive double-double. She was 12-for-15 from the free throw line. Starks had 11 points, five rebounds and two steals. Castillo finished with eight points and seven boards.
Dezeree White had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Wilson scored 14 points for the Saints.
St. Thomas was 19 of 50 from the field. Our Lady of the Lake was 32 of 81. The Saints outrebounded the Celts, 45-37.
UST will host University of the Southwest at 2 p.m. Saturday.
