This Week at the Hilltop, we celebrate a new year, and St. Edward's Men's and Women's Basketball returns from winter break and back to Lone Star Conference play, hosting Texas A&M International on Friday and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday. 
 
Women's Basketball (6-7, 2-2)
St. Edward's closed the year with a 112-35 win over Arlington Baptist, led by AINSLEY THUNELL's 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Hilltoppers' 112 points were tied for the eighth most in program history, and their 21 steals tied for fifth-most. 
 
J.P. leads the Hilltoppers. The sophomore point guard averages 14.7 points per game and leads the LSC in total assists (50) and assists per game (4.2). She's also second in steals with 23, averaging 1.92 per game (fifth-most). KIANA BENNETT complements J.P. in the backcourt, converting a team-high 25 3-pointers on .391 percent shooting. 
 
St. Edward's has featured a more balanced attack in its four conference games, with four players averaging double figures. RAMSEY ROBLEDO has also showcased a solid all-around game in conference play, supplementing her 10.0 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. 
 
vs. Texas A&M International (1-10, 0-5)
The Dustdevils opened this season with growing pains under a new coaching staff but closed 2024 with a win. Texas A&M International plays a helter-skelter style, forcing 21.50 turnovers per game, including 11.2 steals. Both rank second in the LSC. However, the Dustdevils turn the ball over 20.3 times per game, the 13th most. 
 
Josie Igherighe leads the team with 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, followed closely by Trinity Chears' 11.2 points. 
 
vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-5, 2-3)
The Javelinas won five of their first seven games but lost to conference opponents Angelo State, UTPB, and Eastern New Mexico this season. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville moves the ball and limits its mistakes. It ranks third in the LSC in assists per game (14.5) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.04). The team also ranks fifth in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 56.5 points per game. 
 
Shelby Ray leads the Javelines with 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on 46.9 percent shooting. Point guard Abby Bala is steady with a conference-best assist-to-turnover ratio. 
 
Men's Basketball (8-5, 2-2)
St. Edward's has split its conference schedule with blowout wings over Sul Ross State and Western New Mexico and losses to Lubbock Christian and Midwestern State. The Hilltoppers closed the year with back-to-back losses against two quality opponents, including No. 2-ranked Washburn. 
Center LEWIS ROWE has emerged as the team's leading scorer in a balanced attack, with five Hilltoppers averaging double figures. The Australian big man has reached double-digit points in nine consecutive games, including six games over 15 points and two 20-point games. 
 
The Hilltoppers move the ball well, ranking second in the LSC in assists-per-game (17.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.31). St. Edward's also forces 19.69 turnovers and 11.2 steals per game, ranking third in the LSC in both categories. 
 
vs. Texas A&M International (7-7, 2-3)
The Dustdevils field a deep rotation featuring 10 players averaging 13 minutes or more, ranking third in the conference in bench points per game (29.0). Anthony Ignowski leads the team with 11.1 points per game, shooting 51.3 percent from the field. Caylen Goff Brown followed with 10.1 points in 18.9 minutes per game, shooting .439 from deep. 
 
Texas A&M International has conference wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville and Eastern New Mexico with losses to Angelo State, Texas Permian Basin, and West Texas A&M. 
 
vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-5, 2-3) 
Texas A&M-Kingsville opened the season with three consecutive wins before back-to-back losses to MSU-Denver and Colorado State-Pueblo. The Javelinas have been up and down since, posting a big win over No. 2-ranked West Texas A&M, followed by a loss to Eastern New Mexico to close 2024. 
 
Both teams often play each other down to the wire, including in a Hilltopper win last season on a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot from BLAKE NIELSEN. 
 
The Javelinas are led by their one-two backcourt, Isaiah Payne and Bryson Goldsmith, who average 16.2 and 10.7 points per game, respectively.