AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's University women's basketball team kicked off its 2025-26 season with a 75-54 Homecoming exhibition victory over Our Lady of the Lake University at the Recreation & Athletics Center.

Transfers SUNI DAVIS and KENDALL BECK made their Hilltopper debuts in the starting lineup alongside MIKAH CHAPMAN, RAMSEY ROBLEDO, and KIANA BENNETT. Chapman assisted Bennett on the opening layup, setting the tone for a balanced, aggressive start.

St. Edward's applied pressure on both ends, forcing OLLU to take time to find its footing before a seven-point surge. Chapman and Beck answered with mid-range shots, strong rebounding, and precise high-low passing.

"We all build off each other, so I think I helped my team with the energy," Chapman said. "Everyone did great today, everyone stepped up and shone in their own way. That's what makes us our team, everyone knows that they can do what they need to do."

Davis scored her first basket with a free throw after drawing a foul in the paint, putting the Hilltoppers ahead 11-7. The junior transfer led the team with 16 points, shooting 6-for-7 from the line.

"They (Davis and Beck) were really good for us," head coach J.J. Riehl said. "I was pleased with our ability to handle adversity today, get a little tough, get pushed, and be okay."

ADDIE MCCORMICK sparked the bench with a two-pointer and an assist to Beck, while Bennett extended the lead with a three-pointer. Free throws from JASMYN JACKSON and a Chapman layup closed the first quarter at 21-7.

St. Edward's continued its dominance in the second quarter, with Chapman and Beck connecting early and contributions from JASMINE FARMER pushing the lead further. Freshman JAE'LA HICKS made her debut with two jumpers and a free throw, giving the Hilltoppers a 30-11 advantage. KIARA COUNCIL added a three-pointer after an offensive rebound, and Robledo converted a layup to end the half at 38-25.

The Hilltoppers opened the second half with a McCormick layup, and Chapman converted 3-of-4 free throws after being fouled in the paint. Davis and Farmer combined for six steals around the three-point line, while Beck scored back-to-back buckets in the paint, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Davis added two free throws and a mid-range basket, extending the lead to 53-36. Farmer and Jackson contributed consecutive two-pointers, and Robledo finished the third quarter with a three-pointer off a steal.

In the final period, OLLU scored nine straight points, but the Hilltoppers quickly reestablished a 20-point lead with free throws from Davis and Beck. ALAYAH FLUCUS and Jackson contributed key defensive rebounds and steals to close out the game.

"You could really see our culture coming out, or toughness, our togetherness – you could really see that play out," Riehl said. "I thought we took care of the ball better, we took the extra pass a little bit better, assists were good, and I'm really happy to end preseason 3-0 and to go into next week with a little momentum."

St. Edward's travels next to South Dakota and Colorado, facing Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Friday, Nov. 14.