San Antonio – Natalie Gamez led three Rattlers scoring in double figures with 16 points as St. Mary’s University rolled to its third straight win, 71-51, over the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Heartland Conference women’s basketball action Saturday night at Bill Greehey Arena.

Gamez (So., San Antonio) hit on 5-of-14 shots from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to lead all players. Charlena Rodez (Sr., Cedar Park) had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Ashton Benford (So., Waxahachie) had 12 points and nine rebounds, just missing her second straight double-double.

Benford scored the first two baskets of the game for the Rattlers as St. Mary’s hit on seven of its first nine shots from the field to take a commanding 22-6 lead at the 10:50 mark of the first half. That lead would expand to as much as 21 points before the break and the Rattlers took a 39-19 lead into the locker room at the break. In the second half the Rattlers would lead by as much as 28 points before settling for the final margin of 20.

Calli Smith was the only Falcon in double figures with 16 points. UTPB shot 29.1 percent (16-55) from the field, including 23.5 percent from the three-point line. St. Mary’s also outrebounded the Falcons 44-34.

With the win the Rattlers have won three in a row and four of five. They are now 5-9 overall. UTPB fell to 0-11 on the season. St. Mary’s will be off for the next nine days before hosting the University of the Incarnate Word on Mon., Jan. 15 at Bill Greehey Arena at 5:30 p.m.

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