ALPINE- Down 26-8 after the first quarter, the Sul Ross Lady Lobos came as close as four in the third quarter before falling 83-72 to University of St. Thomas (TX).

This was the opening game of the first day of the 2019 ASC/SCAC Crossover at the Gallego Center. Other participating teams include Howard Payne University and Schreiner University.

The Celts opened the game on a 7-0 run and extended their lead to a game-high 26-8 entering the second quarter.

Sully regrouped in the second and started the quarter on a 9-2 run to cut it to 10. Kaylee Martinez started the run with two free throws before a Jessica Magallanes layup cut it to 14. After a St. Thomas three, Kayley Diaz hit one from beyond the arc and Martinez followed that with a layup and the foul. She would hit her free throw to make it 28-18 at the 7:25 mark of the second quarter.

After a 5-0 Celts run pushed their lead back to 15, the Lady Lobos used an 11-2 run to get within single-digits at 35-29. The run started with another Magallanes layup that was followed by Diaz's second three of the game. After a St. Thomas bucket, Martinez hit back-to-back jumpers before Presley Anastas' layup made it 35-29 at the 3:19 mark.

The two sides traded baskets down the stretch and the Celts took a 39-33 lead to the break.

Martinez started scoring in the third with a layup to bring Sully to within four.

St. Thomas immediately answered with an 8-0 run to go back up 12.

The Lady Lobos cut the deficit to single-digits five more times in the third but the Celts always had an answer. The final time came on a three-point play from Chandre Nunez. She converted the layup and eventual free throw to make it 62-55. St. Thomas responded with a jumper to take a nine-point lead to the fourth.

Jocelyne Roque's layup to start the final quarter cut it to a seven-point game. The Celts answered with a triple and led by double-digits the remainder of the way for the 83-72 win.

Roque led all Sully scorers with 16 points on 5-10 shooting and 6-9 from the free throw line. She added six rebounds. 

Nunez and Martinez both scored 15 in the game and added nine and six rebounds respectively.

The Lady Lobos fall to 2-4 on the year. St. Thomas improves to 4-2.

Howard Payne and Schreiner concluded the first day of the crossover with a 66-59 win for the Lady Jackets.

Sully is back in action Sunday, December 1 for the conclusion of the ASC/SCAC Crossover. The day starts with a 1:00 p.m. tip with St. Thomas taking on Howard Payne. The Lady Lobos will tipoff against Schreiner at 3:00 p.m. from the Gallego Center.