PUEBLO, Colorado – The Angelo State women's basketball held St. Edward's to just eight points in the second quarter on its way to a 79-60 win in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Quarterfinal on Friday in Pueblo, Colorado.
The Belles improve to 25-5 on the season and won a tournament game for the fourth time in program history. St. Edward's ends the year with a 20-9 record. ASU shot 46.6 percent from the field and hit nine 3-pointers. The Hilltoppers forced 16 Belle turnovers but were held to just 36.1 percent from the field, while SEU was also out rebounded 40-35.
"I want to congratulate St. Edward's on a great season," Angelo State head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "They had a tremendous year. We were fortunate to get the win and advance today. I couldn't be more proud of this team."
Angelo State had five score in double figures with Jasmine Prophet leading the way with a double-double. The senior scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, 11 on the defensive end, for her sixth double-double of the season. Taylor Dorsey added 13 points and five assists. Christina Robinson chipped in 12 points while Madi Greenwood scored 11 points. Lexi Murphy was perfect from the field going 4-for-3 and 2-for-2 from three to score 10 points.
The Belles got a fast start opening the game on an 11-4 run through the first three and a half minutes. Keanna Kelly opened the game with two straight 3-pointers. ASU kept lighting it up from downtown as Robinson and Murphy hit a three to extend the lead to 19-8. A couple of possessions later a 3-pointer by Greenwood gave ASU its largest lead of the first quarter at 25-10 with 1:58 to go in the first before taking a 27-14 advantage into the second quarter.
ASU dominated the second quarter limiting St. Edward's to just eight points. The Hilltoppers only made 4-of-17 from the field and went 0-of-5 from behind the arc. Prophet hit the first bucket of the quarter and spurred an 11-2 run to push the advantage to 40-18. The Belles would outscore SEU 8-4 over the final 4:17 to take a 48-22 lead into the break.
St. Edward's came out and outscored ASU 22-17 in the third quarter. The Belles answered every basket and leaned on Prophet who scored 10 of her 20 points in the third quarter. SEU would trim a 26 points deficit down to 18 with 1:42 to go in the quarter. Prophet then hit four free throws to push the lead back to 21 at 65-44 after three quarters.
Murphy hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring for ASU in the fourth. Greenwood came down after a Hilltopper bucket and drove the lane and went for a layup. The junior converted the play, was fouled and made the free throw. St. Edward's would not get any closer than 19 the rest of the way as ASU secured the 79-60 victory.
SEU's Shakera Barnes scored a game-high 28 points while Lexi Fatheree added 16 points.
ASU will face UC-Colorado Springs in the South Central Regional Semifinals at 5 p.m. MST / 6 p.m. CST. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. UCCS defeated Eastern New Mexico 89-73.
