This Week at the Hilltop, Women's Basketball travels to Gunnison, Colorado, to face the Western Colorado Mountaineers on Monday. Then, it's a week of rest and Thanksgiving for everyone at St. Edward's University. 
 
Western Colorado is on a three-game winning streak after opening the season with back-to-back losses against Lone Star Conference opponents Texas Woman's University and Angelo State at the Regional Crossover in Denver. 
 
The Mountaineers were voted tenth in the RMAC Preseason Polls and returned their top seven scorers from a season ago. 
 
Center Rachel Cockman leads the team with 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, shooting 51 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. She is the only Mountaineer averaging double figures. 
 
Western Colorado cleans up the glass and doesn't foul much, ranking third in the RMAC in rebounds and fouls per game. However, it has struggled to score, ranking eighth with a negative point differential. 
 
St. Edward's has played one of the most demanding schedules in the region, with a cadre of nationally ranked opponents. The Hilltoppers have been competitive against them all, taking three of the four within a possession or two late in the fourth quarter. 
 
Sophomore point guard J.P. leads the Hilltoppers in points, rebounds, steals, and assists, leading the LSC in total assists. KIANA BENNETT joins her in double figures at 10 points per game, hitting 34.8 percent from deep. The Hilltoppers have five players shooting 34 percent or better from beyond the 3-point line on a low volume. 
 
St. Edward's is 0-2 all-time against Western Colorado, having played them in 2017 and 2018. The Hilltoppers are 3-1 this season against RMAC opponents.