UAFS junior forward Tamera Gulley posted her team-leading sixth double-double on Friday night, but that wasn't enough for the No. 6 seed Lady Lions, who lost 66-51 to the No. 3 seed St. Mary's Rattlers in the first round of the Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament at the UMAC in Tulsa, Okla.

It was the third meeting of the season between UAFS and St. Mary's, which split their games with each team winning on its home court. It was the 22^nd game in the all-time series between the two teams, which is now tied 11-11.

St. Mary's (18-9) will play No. 2 seed Newman (20-9) at 5 p.m. in the semifinals. The championship game will be at noon on Sunday.

UAFS only trailed St. Mary's by five points after three quarters (49-44), but it only made 3-of-17 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter as the Rattlers pulled away for good, building a double-digit lead.

The Lady Lions (10-18) shot just 34 percent from the field (19 of 56) – it was only 2-of-15 shooting from 3-point range – and shot just 55 percent from the free-throw line (11 of 20). Gulley was the only Lady Lion to score in double-figures, finishing with 14 points.

Gulley topped off her double-double with 11 rebounds, but the Lady Lions were still out-rebounded by one rebound (40-39). UAFS also committed 14 turnovers that led to 18 points for St. Mary's.

St. Mary's shot only 35 percent from the field (18 of 51) – it was 7-of-20 from 3-point range – and 72 percent from the free-throw line (23 of 32). Senior guard Arysia Porter led the Rattlers with 20 points, while redshirt senior guard Kaitlin Walla had 17 points and sophomore guard Soteria Banks had 16 points.

Sophomore post Audrey Wandji just missed a double-double, finishing with eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
 
 
WOMEN
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
NO. 3 ST. MARY'S 66, NO. 6 UAFS 51
UAFS              16        13        15        7          --          51
St. Mary's       17        17        15        17        --          66
UAFS (10-18): Gulley 14, Lehne 9, D. Brown 8, Green 8, Elkins 7, Terry 3, Richardson 2
St. Mary's (18-9): Porter 20, Walla 17, Banks 16, Wandji 9, Torres 2, Wilson 2