AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's women's basketball team will open its spring portion of the 2012-13 schedule this Saturday when they welcome Heartland Conference newcomer McMurry to the Recreation and Convocation Center. They will also take on another conference newcomer in Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, January 12^th.
 
St. Edward's (8-4) started the season with a 3-3 record before opening conference play on the road. The Hilltoppers defied the odds and knocked off conference-favorite UA Fort Smith, 85-68, and then followed that up with a 59-55 win over last year's conference champion Newman. The 2-0 start in conference play is the program's first since the 2008-09 season. The team rode the momentum of those big wins into three more wins for five-game winning streak. The streak was halted last Saturday against a hot-shooting Abilene Christian squad, 67-58.
 
DAWN KIEL has led the way, averaging 15.7 points per contest, with STEPHANIE DEKKERS dishing out 4.4 assists per game. ERIKA ROUSCULP has really come on as of late, averaging 12.0 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. She has also been named Heartland Conference Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks.
 
St. Edward's is all alone in first place of the Heartland Conference with a 2-0 record. Rival St. Mary's is right behind them at 1-0. Newman, Texas A&M-International and UA Fort Smith are all tied for last place with a 0-1 record. UT-Permian Basin and Panhandle State have yet to play a conference game.
 
Saturday's game against McMurry will not be a conference game as the Warhawks are in their transition stage to NCAA Division II and are not eligible for the Heartland Conference crown. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.