Before a game or practice, St. Edward's women's basketball sophomore point guard J.P. is a free-flowing fountain of energy and joy, bouncing from teammate to teammate, unable to hold still or break from a smile for a moment. 
 
Once on the hardwood court, with a ball in her hands, that energy sharpens into an endless stream of creativity off the bounce on offense and physical, hyperkinetic play on defense. When finely tuned, the combination made for one of the most challenging players to guard in the Lone Star Conference. 
 
"My game and my personality go hand-in-hand," J.P. says. "I always try to stay positive for my teammates because they always have my back." 
 
The Hilltoppers return six players from a year ago, including four of their five starters: J.P., BAILEY FEATHERSTONE, MIKAH CHAPMAN, and AINSLEY THUNELL. That quartet and returning sharpshooter ISABEL LANGENBERG give St. Edward's a foundation of stability for a team incorporating eight newcomers.
 
St. Edward's opens this season deeper than a year ago. Frontcourt reinforcements have arrived. Centers JASMYN JACKSON, MAKENA TOMLINSON, and big forwards ALAYAH FLUCUS and ALLISON HOWE bring more size, athleticism, or both off the bench. 
 
Jackson has showcased a soft shooting stroke with a high release, long arms, and excellent mobility for a 6-foot-2 center. After working her way back from injury, Flucus shows a nose for rebounds and interior scoring. Howe has displayed solid footwork and some deft passing, working from the elbows as she adjusts to the college game, and Tomlinson was a nightly double-double threat at Irvine Valley College.
 
In the backcourt, the team has recruited more playmakers and shooters. KIANA BENNETT projects as a starter with an all-around game and the sort of instincts and problem-solving that come with being a multi-sport athlete growing up. RAMSEY ROBLEDO is a knockdown shooter with deep range, JASMINE FARMER is a scorer with burgeoning secondary playmaking potential, and RILEY MOORE is a first-year guard with size. 
 
As with the team's all-conference starting point guard, St. Edward's success will be based on effectively channeling these free-flowing, positive attributes once the season tips off. 
 
"The six returners started working in the first week of April and have not stopped. They've been phenomenal about being intentional and disciplined in their work," St. Edward's Head Women's Basketball Coach J.J. Riehl says. "And not just them. Throughout the summer, they've worked with the incoming players to build relationships and reach a point where they hold each other accountable. I'm pleased with how they've bought into who we are and what we're trying to do."
 
Even with the influx of talent, the Hilltoppers are a team that will hang their hats on the defensive end. Thunell and Chapman are at the heart of that. The duo is undersized in the frontcourt but can hold up against more physical players at the point of attack, move their feet on the perimeter, and switch off assignments on the fly. Thunell's long arms obscure passing lanes, and while Chapman isn't a conventional rim protector, her intuitive angles and timing cancel out enough shots at the basket. The defensive versatility allows St. Edward's more options to toggle between defensive styles.
 
"Mikah and I worked a lot in practice reading each other and playing together," Thunell says. "And J.P. plays a big part in that offensively with how she moves the ball, and we play off each other. We trust each other." 
 
In some ways, Thunell is the perfect counterbalance to J.P. and Chapman's more extroverted personalities on the court. Her constant, calm demeanor finds what the team needs between a backcourt steal, backdoor pass, or timely 3-pointer. 
 
"It's about knowing that the season is long and there are a lot of ups and downs through it," Thunell explains. "I have a great group next to me, always feeding me with positive energy, so I know if one shot doesn't fall, I have the next one." 
 
That level of trust and team chemistry is necessary for a Hilltopper team banking on being tougher together. St. Edward's will spend plenty of time away from the friendly confines of the RAC and Ed Norris '41 and Joe Beck '58 Court in the fall semester. Women's basketball opens this weekend in Canada, returns home to host the South Central Regional Crossover, then heads to Salt Lake City, Utah, in mid-November and a trip to Western Colorado on Nov. 25. 
 
"I think it's going to be awesome. It gives us more time to build our relationships, have fun, and make memories," Thunell says. "We're there to do some work, but we get to spend time together playing a game we love." 
 
Road trips and memories like that are the moments that build seasons, stacked on each other, building programs. St. Edward's women's basketball is celebrating its 50th season this year, paying tribute to past players and historical moments. 
 
"What a great year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women's basketball with women's sports at their pinnacle. There's so much excitement and energy, especially in women's basketball at the collegiate and professional levels," Riehl exclaims. "To spotlight our little slice of history at St. Edward's, it's a great time." 
 
And so, women's basketball seeks to channel its joy and potential into something tangible on the court, celebrating the program's history while hoping to write a chapter of its own.