Box Score ODESSA, Texas – St. Mary's scored the game-winning layup with 35 seconds to take down Newman University, 54-53, in the Heartland Conference Semifinals on Friday (March 8), hosted by UTPB. The Lady Jets end the 2012-13 season 11-16.
 
St. Mary's Morgan Pullins put in a layup with 35 seconds left to put the Rattlers up 54-53. Pullins had an opportunity to make it a three-point play, but she missed the free throw. Alexandra Ciabattoni missed a jumper with 13 seconds remaining, but Sumayyah Muhammad grabbed the offensive rebounds. The Lady Jets did not get another attempt for the victory as Muhammad turned the ball over with 10 seconds remaining.
 
After falling behind 50-42 with 7:27 remaining, the Lady Jets went on a run to take a 51-50 advantage with 3:01 on the clock. Ciabattoni hit a 3-pointer to put NU up. The run included hoops from Ciabattoni, Muhammad and Kianna Flannagan.
 
Two free throws from Mariah Lee put the Rattlers in front at 52-51 with 2:41 left. The Lady Jets regained the lead at the 1:47 mark on a jumper from Flannagan for a 53-52 score.
 
The Lady Jets controlled most of the first half, pulling out to a 19-10 lead midway through the first stanza. Two Ciabattoni free throws and layup gave NU the nine-point advantage at the 10:01 mark of the first half.
 
After the Rattlers cut the margin to four points at 21-17 with 4:41 left in the half, Cheniqwa Banks hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead to 27-19 at the 3:57 mark. The Lady Jets led 31-27 at halftime.
 
A quick 3 from Ciabattoni put NU up 34-27 only 25 seconds into the second half, but St. Mary's scored the next eight points to take a 35-34 lead at the 16:34 mark. The score remained close until the Rattlers made a 9-0 run to take a 50-42 advantage with 7:27 remaining.
 
Ciabattoni led the Lady Jets with 16 points and added eight rebounds. Cheniqwa Banks scored 14 points, and Flannagan added 10 points. Muhammad grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. The Lady Jets shot 40.4 percent from the field (19-47), including 45.5 percent (10-22) in the first half.
 
 Jackie Woods led St. Mary's with 13 points, and Morgan Pullins added 10 points. The Rattlers shot 38.3 percent from the field (23-60) and 50 percent (7-14) from the free throw line.