Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's junior guard MADDIE WHEELER made seven shots from beyond the arc and scored 30 points in a 114-56 victory over Texas College on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation and Convocation Center (RCC). The Hilltoppers improve to 4-0 overall this season. This is the first time St. Edward's has started a season 4-0 since the 1999-2000 season.
 
Head coach JJ Riehl commented on Wheeler's effort, "I'm happy for Maddie, she's gone through so much with the injuries that anytime she can have a shooting performance like that, it's special."
 
The Hilltoppers jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead behind the shooting of Wheeler. She scored seven points during the initial run. Texas College went on a run to counter the Hilltoppers and cut the lead to 15-10 with just under 15 minutes remaining.
 
CASEY RILEY scored five consecutive points and pushed the lead to 10 at the 8:39 mark. Both teams exchanged baskets until the Hilltoppers went on a 10-0 run late in the first period. Wheeler drained one of her seven three's to start the run. VALENCIA WHITE scored the final bucket of the half for St. Edward's, sending them into the locker room with the 54-33 lead.
 
"We had the 3 E's today, enery, enthusiasm and effort," said Riehl after the game. "That's something that is so important for this team. When we have them we can be a good team but when we don't we struggle."
 
The Steer scored the first bucket of the second half before ERIKA ROUSCULP started a 19-3 run for the Hilltoppers. The run gave St. Edwards a 73-38 lead going into the first media timeout of the half. KATHLEEN BRISBANE and MILEKA LOYDRAKE were the key contributors during the run as they combined for 13 of the 19 points.
 
The Hilltoppers went on another run during the middle portion of the second half. This time the run was a 17-3 run and it gave St. Edward's a 92-47 lead. Loydrake, Rousculp, and White all scored during the run.
 
St. Edward's closed the game on a 22-9 run and won 114-56. Wheeler put the Hilltoppers over the century mark with back-to-back shots from downtown. HALEY MEEKINS and VALENCIA WHITE put the stamp on the victory with two layups during the final minutes of play.
 
For the third time this season, St. Edward's has had five players score in double figures. Loydrake added 20, Rousculp scored 11, and Meekins and White chipped in 10 to go along with Wheelers 30. White led all rebounders with 17 boards; nine came on the offensive end. Meekins had nine rebounds and Wheeler grabbed eight. STEPHANIE DEKKERS dished out seven assists on the afternoon.
 
Riehl also commented on the play of White, "V was great on the boards. She brings so much energy to our team and she was awesome on the boards."
 
Riehl closed her statement by looking forward to the start of conference play. "We head into conference play with the best start to the season since 99-00. Hopefully that gives us lots of confidence going into Thursday's matchup with UA Fort Smith. It will be a good challenge for us."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Thursday as they host UA Fort Smith at 5:00 p.m. for their first Heartland Conference matchup of the season. The game will take place at the Recreation and Convocation Center on the St. Edward's campus. The Hilltoppers went 2-0 last season against the Lions. Live video and stats will be available through the Hilltopper athletic website.