This Week at the Hilltop, St. Edward's Athletics introduces its newest NCAA varsity program with a STUNT preview showcase on Tuesday. The men's and women's basketball teams continue conference play on the road against Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M International, and baseball and softball open their seasons. 
 
STUNT (0-0, 0-0)
St. Edward's opens its inaugural STUNT season with a Preseason Showcase on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Recreation and Athletics Center. 
 
STUNT translates cheerleading's athleticism and technical components into a head-to-head competition against other teams. The team will perform a 30-minute showcase covering all four quarters of STUNT, explain the rules, and introduce the program's first team. 
 
Be part of this historic first season and support these dedicated women. 
 
Baseball (0-0, 0-0)
St. Edward's Baseball ranked fifth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll and opens the season at home against West Texas A&M, the third-ranked team in the LSC. 
 
Baseball lost three of four games on the road against the Buffaloes last season, winning Game 3 by a score of 10-0 and losing the other three games by two two-run margins and one walk-off single. The Hilltoppers return 
 
St. Edward's returns all-conference third baseman TREVOR SEBEK and pitcher JAKUB RAYFIELD. The Hilltoppers also get back 2023 All-LSC First Team outfielder CONNOR COX, who missed a significant portion of the 2024 season due to injury. 
 
West Texas A&M was the LSC runner-up last season and reached the NCAA Tournament. Senior catcher Kyle Micklus and pitcher Michael Guerrero lead the Buffs. Micklus hit .409 last season with 17 doubles and six home runs, driving in 44 RBI with a .611 slugging percentage. Guerrero is a transfer from Nicholls State, where he made 10 appearances out of the bullpen with a 2-0 record and 2.00 ERA in 18 innings. 
 
Softball (0-0, 0-0)
St. Edward's opens its season at the DII First Pitch Invitational hosted by the Scrap Yard Sports Complex for a third consecutive season. The Hilltoppers will play five games in three days, headlined by Pittsburg State University, which received votes in the NFCA national rankings.
 
The Hilltoppers are 2-1 all-time against Pittsburg State, losing 9-1 last year and winning 3-2 the year before. 
 
St. Edward's returns most of its 2024 lineup with three players having all-conference or academic all-conference seasons on their resumes, with shortstop MEGAN MORRIS and blazing fast outfielders ARIANNA VIDALES and KATIE DILLON. KYLEN PADGETT returns in the pitcher's circle, and the Hilltoppers have added transfer HALEY CARMONA and first-year MADDIE AGUILAR. 
 
Women's Basketball (9-12, 5-7)
Women's Basketball gets its second look at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M International with some momentum, having won three of its last four. 
 
J.P. remains the driving force behind the Hilltopper offense, averaging 14.1 points and 4.3 assists per game, leading the LSC in total assists (91) and assists per game. 
 
However, the bench's play is a significant development over the past four games. Sophomore BAILEY FEATHERSTONE is averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on .477 shooting from the field over that time as the focal point of the second unit. ISABEL LANGENBERG has emerged as a reliable second-unit scorer playing at the four, averaging 8.5 points on .560 shooting, including 4-for-10 from deep. 
 
St. Edward's lost at home to both teams, including on a last-second 3-pointer against Texas A&M International. The Hilltoppers are two games behind Kingsville in the standings and ahead of International. 
 
Men's Basketball (12-9, 6-6)
The Hilltoppers are 2-2 over their last four games, missing a game-tying 3-point opportunity in a loss at Oklahoma Christian and losing on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Texas Permian Basin. Both St. Edward's wins were by double digits. 
 
Senior point guard GAVINO RAMOS has found his rhythm the past two weeks, leading the team at 16.5 points and 5.25 assists per game on .500/.375/.875 shooting splits with just five turnovers in four games. The Hilltoppers have won the turnover battle 67-28. 
 
St. Edward's swept Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville in its first meetings this season, led by LEWIS ROWE's 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Reserve guard LATIEK BRISCOE was also dominant, averaging 15 points per game on .800/.800/1.000 shooting splits.