AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's basketball opened the game on a 20-0 run and never looked back, defeating Arlington Baptist 112-35 in front of a frenzied crowd of third, fourth, and fifth graders from Travis Heights Elementary. 
 
The 112 points are tied for fifth-most in program history, matching last year's total against Arlington Baptist, and St. Edward's 21 steals are tied for eighth most. 
 
RAMSEY ROBLEDO found MIKAH CHAPMAN for a layup in the opening minute to put the Hilltoppers on the scoreboard, and KIANA BENNETT followed with a quick steal and layup to set the tone for St. Edward's. 
 
The Hilltoppers forced ten turnovers in the first quarter, including six steals, to outscore Arlington Baptist 17-0 in points off turnovers and take a 24-5 lead in the first quarter. AINSLEY THUNELL, J.P., and Bennett each scored five. 
 
St. Edward's repeated the ten-turnover, six-steal performance in the second quarter, ripping ball handlers in the open court, jumping entry passes into the post, and picking off passes. RILEY MOORE hit all three of her shots in the quarter, including a 3-pointer, for seven points. Chapman and Robledo scored six each.
 
Thunell and Chpamn led all scorers with nine each, combining to shoot 8-for-13 in the half. J.P. added eight points, and Bennett and Moore each scored seven. The Hilltoppers shot 23-for-44 from the field and recorded 12 steals. 
 
St. Edward's recorded six more steals in the third, and J.P. collapsed the defense and found her shooters, dishing out four assists in the third quarter, finding Thunell and Bennett for a combined three 3-pointers. Thunell scored nine points on five shots, and the Hilltoppers outscored the Patriots 22-2 in the paint. 
 
ADDIE MCCORMICK came off the bench in the fourth quarter and made the most of her playing time, scoring 11 points in seven minutes, hitting 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. She also contributed three rebounds and two assists. 
 
Thunell led St. Edward's with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting, grabbing three rebounds with three steals and two assists. Bennett added 15 points on seven shots with three assists and two steals; J.P. scored 12 with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Chapman added 11 points, three rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. BAILEY FEATHERSTONE and McCormick scored in double figures off the bench, finishing with 12 and 11 points. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 6-7 with the win in its final game of the calendar year. The Hilltoppers will return to conference play on Friday, Jan. 3, to host Texas A&M International, followed by another home game on Sunday, Jan. 5 against Texas A&M-Kingsville.