By: Houston Taylor
MONTICELLO, Ark. – Junior guard Goldie White gave Southern Arkansas a 2-0 advantage 16 seconds into the game, but Ashton Benford’s and Farren Fox’s jumpers over the next two minutes put St. Mary’s in front for good as the Rattlers (8-1) went on to a 52-40 win Saturday in the Arkansas-Monticello Holiday Inn Express Classic at Steelman Fieldhouse.
Benford posted a game-high 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds, hitting 7 of 13 shots and all four of her free throws in leading St. Mary’s.
It looked to be an early blowout as the Rattlers used a 13-2 run over a six-minute span midway the first half, holding a 25-10 advantage at 5:28. But SAU scored 12 unanswered to close the gap to 25-22 at the half. Senior guard Shanaye Davis scored six of her eight points during the run.
St. Mary’s scored the first eight points of the second half, though, in the midst of a 9-3 spree for a 34-25 margin at 14:18 and that’s the last time Southern Arkansas would be within single digits. An 11-3 run put the Rattlers up 44-28 with 6:29 left as they went on for the win.
The Lady Muleriders hit just 4 of 22 shots in the second half, scoring only 18 points. Their 40-point total was the lowest scoring output since a 65-40 loss to then 12th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce in November of last year.
White led SAU with 16 points and six rebounds, as she and Benford were the only players in double-figures.
St. Mary’s finished 20 of 47 from the floor for 42.6 percent, while Southern Arkansas was 13 of 43 (30.2), including missing all 10 three-point attempts. The Rattlers hit 10 of 12 free throws, while the Lady Muleriders converted 14 of 20.
St. Mary’s held a 40-22 rebound advantage, but had 14 turnovers to SAU’s eight.
White and Benford were both named to the classic’s all-tournament team, while the Rattlers’ Rachel Jones, who finished with eight points and rebounds against Southern Arkansas, was named the MVP.
The Lady Muleriders (4-6) are off until December 18 when they return home to host Newman (Kan.) in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
