AUSTIN, Texas – A few days before National Women and Girls in Sports Day, St. Edward's University announced the creation of the J.J. Riehl '02, MA '04 Women's Basketball Endowment. 
 
Associate Vice President for Athletics Debbie Taylor presented Riehl with a framed certificate before the tip-off of St. Edward's game against Texas A&M-International. The endowment is a gift from an anonymous donor in the amount of $25,000. 
 
The fund will provide annual support for the program in perpetuity, growing through continued investment and donor contributions, providing stability for one of St. Edward's most beloved programs. 
 
This endowment is the first of its kind at St. Edward's University, making women's basketball the first team on the Hilltop with its own endowment. 
 
Riehl received her degree from St. Edward's in 2002 after one of the most decorated collegiate careers in the program's history. She was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference honoree, and twice named team captain while scoring over 1,000 career points and leading her team to an NAIA Tournament appearance. She immediately rejoined the team as an assistant coach while earning her master's at St. Edward's and was later named head coach in 2012. 
 
During Riehl's tenure, the Hilltoppers have claimed the program's first NCAA regular-season conference title, first Heartland Conference Championship, first NCAA Tournament appearance, and first two NCAA All-Americans, and earned the Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in 2017.
 
St. Edward's women's basketball supporters can strengthen the endowment with donations to the program's giving site by clicking here.