AUSTIN — The Southwestern University Pirates women's basketball team suffered a slow start in its exhibition against NCAA Division III St. Edward's University, losing to the Hilltoppers 70-57.
Southwestern's front court pairing of Cecily Woolfolk and Noel Pratts each finished in double figures for the Pirates, who shot a superior 42.9 percent from the field but only 2-for-13 from the 3-point line (15.4 percent) while losing the turnover and rebounding battle.
Woolfolk worked at volume inside, scoring 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting and hitting 3-for-4 from the free-throw line while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and two blocks and a steal to go with her double-double. Pratts was efficient, scoring a game-high 16 points on 8-for-12 shooting with five rebounds.
Erin Toro scored eight points as the Pirates' top scorer off the bench, shooting 3-for-5 and grabbing five rebounds.
The Pirates struggled to start, scoring only six points on 3-for-11 shooting in the first quarter while St. Edward's Dejiah Blanks scored six of her game-high 22 points (9-for-18 shooting) to help lead the Hilltoppers to an early 18-6 lead.
Toro provided a spark off the bench in the second quarter with a bucket and two assists while Pratts and Woolfolk scored four each as the Pirates shot over 50 percent in the quarter. Blanks scored nine more and Lexi Cunningham had eight in the quarter off the bench to give St. Edward's a 39-22 lead at halftime.
After a nearly even third quarter, the Pirates cut into the lead in the fourth with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting from Pratts to win the quarter 70-57.
The Hilltoppers had a 64-49 advantage in shots attempted, forcing 29 turnovers, including 18 of the live ball variety, while pulling down 16 offensive rebounds.
Southwestern will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 16 for a game against Texas-Dallas at 2:00 p.m. The Pirates' home opener is Thursday, Nov. 21 against Concordia Texas at 5:30 p.m.