This Week at the Hilltop, men's and women's basketball continue their Lone Star Conference schedule against nationally-ranked opponents on the road. Both teams face UT Tyler on Thursday, then split up to face Texas Woman's University and Dallas Baptist on Saturday.
Women's Basketball (6-9, 2-4)
St. Edward's women's basketball is no stranger to challenging road games this season, having faced four nationally-ranked opponents during three trips.
This week, the Hilltoppers face arguably the most daunting Thursday and Saturday back-to-back road games in the LSC, opening at No. 14-ranked UT Tyler on Thursday, followed by an away contest against No. 2 Texas Woman's University on Saturday.
St. Edward's is looking to bounce back from home losses to Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Hilltoppers have been solid in forcing turnovers, ranking sixth in the conference at 18 per game. J.P. leads with aggressive point-of-attack defense, totaling the second-most steals in the LSC at 26, and AINSLEY THUNELL and MIKAH CHAPMAN swarm capably in rotation behind her. However, the Hilltoppers have been vulnerable on the glass, ranking 11th in rebounding margin.
J.P.'s 14.3 points and 4.2 assists per game rank eighth and first in the LSC, scoring on an efficient 46.8 percent clip. The Hilltoppers have been accurate from beyond the 3-point line at 33.2 percent but low on volume.
#14 UT Tyler (11-2, 6-1)
The Patriots are off to an impressive 11-2 start, with the only losses coming to top-five teams in the nation, falling to No. 4 Lubbock Christian and No. 3 Montana State Billings with a victory over top-ranked Texas Woman's in November.
UT Tyler moves the ball well, leading the conference with 15 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.06.
The ball most often finds its way into the hands of Meagan Mendazona, averaging 16.3 points per game. The 5-foot-9 junior guard leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 5.3 boards per game, shooting .482/.350/.769 splits.
The Patriots launch 3-pointers frequently, take care of the ball, and limit opponents to 33.8 percent shooting for the stingiest defense in the conference.
#2 Texas Woman's University (13-1, 6-1)
TWU's only loss this season was on the road at UT Tyler. The Pioneers remain the top-ranked team in the LSC behind All-American and LSC Player of the Year forward Ashley Ingram.
Ingram leads the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, and blocks, averaging 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game, anchoring an efficient offense and second-stingiest defense.
Leila Patel (11.9 points) and Scout Huffman (10.1 points) join Ingram in double figures at .471 and .565 percent shooting. Averee Kleinhans is just off that mark with 9.5 points per game.
Men's Basketball (10-5, 4-2)
Men's Basketball picked up its fourth-consecutive conference win after sweeping Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville in convincing wins at home last week. The Hilltoppers are tied for ninth in the South Central Region.
St. Edward's continues to score at an efficient clip, led by LEWIS ROWE's working in the paint in the halfcourt offense at 13.6 points per game on 57 percent shooting and a barrage of steals and 3-pointers, ranking third in both categories.
Wings CONOR MCMANUS and MASON COURTNEY are top five in the LSC in total steals, combining for 51, and 3-pointers made with a combined 69. McManus leads the team in blocks (12) and is second in steals (25).
The Hilltoppers have also found scoring punch off the bench from LATIEK BRISCOE in recent weeks, getting double-digit scoring in three of the past five games, including a combined 30 points last week on blistering 12-for-15 shooting.
UT Tyler (6-7, 3-4)
Cameron snapped the Patriots' three-game win streak over the weekend after opening conference play with three consecutive losses to Lubbock Christian, Midwestern State, and Dallas Baptist.
UT Tyler is in the top 10 in the nation in field goal and 3-point percentage defense but averages more turnovers (13.5) than assists (12.3) and is 13th in the conference in scoring at 68.5 points per game.
Mareng Gatkuoth and Dontrell Hewlett lead the Patriots with 14.5 and 14.3 points per game, though Gatkouth has only played four games this season, averaging 14 points per game in UT Tyler's previous two games.
The Hilltoppers swept the Patriots last year, getting a combined 34 points and 12 assists from GAVINO RAMOS in the two games.
#8 Dallas Baptist (14-2, 6-1)
Dallas Baptist has only suffered two losses this season: to Saint Martin's in Canada and to Lubbock Christian at home.
The Patriots swarm the court and lead the nation in turnovers forced per game (23.73), bringing wave after wave with a second unit that leads the LSC in bench scoring at 35.2 points per game.
Ricky Lujan and Cameron Kahn have combined for 475 points this season, ranking first and fourth in the LSC, and Xavion Brown and Ricky Lujan are ranked second and fourth in the LSC in steals per game.
Lujan leads the Patriots with 16.9 points per game, shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from deep. Kahn averages 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
