Kingsville - Carrying momentum from Saturday's road win, the Texas A&M - Kingsville women's basketball team is hosting the St. Edward's Hilltoppers in a Thursday-night, Lone Star Conference bout.

The Javelinas are 11-8 and 7-6 in LSC play - they currently sit in the eighth spot in the conference standings. Their LSC record is identical to three other conference teams, including two who are currently slated above them in the standings. The Hilltoppers are 9-12 but aren't far behind TAMUK in the LSC standings at 5-7. They had won three games in a row prior to an eight-point loss to Angelo St. on Saturday. Kingsville beat them, 55-42, when the two teams clashed in Austin earlier this year.

"Every team changes over the course of the season and St. Edward's is no different," Head Coach Michael Madrid said. "They have been solid the last couple of weeks. We know each other very well so it will simply come down to getting stops and making shots like most games."

The Hilltoppers are fifth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging more than three denials a game. That's not the only statistical category they've been strong in defensively, however, as the team forces 17.4 turnovers per game, the seventh-most in the LSC. Additionally, they've been strong on the offensive glass, averaging the fifth-most in the conference. Despite that the Javelinas won the rebound battle by nine in their first game against St. Ed's, and are currently fresh off of a matchup where they won on the glass by 22.

"Rebounding simply needs to be important to us," Madrid said. "We are always in the right spot, we just don't get a body on someone. Hopefully we will work to do that Thursday night."

Sophomore guard Janiah Perkins has provided a huge boost for St. Ed's this year, continuing to excel in her second year of collegiate ball. Kingsville will no doubt be looking for her to mimic her performance from the first time these two teams faced off - the Javelinas held her to 4-of-13 shooting from the floor. 

"I think they have four solid guards that can all score in a variety of ways," Madrid said. "We will definitely have our hands full defensively trying to slow them down. Simply comes down to concentrating and moving our feet then forcing tough shots."

Kingsville has leaned on its defense this season, holding opponents to 54.9 points per game, the 17th-best mark in the nation. Its offense, however, has been balanced and efficient, with their field goal and three-point percentages each ranking third in the LSC. This comes despite the fact that no single player is slotted in the top 35 in the LSC in scoring. 

This is the first of two straight home games, which come before a key four-game road trip - the final one before three straight home games to finish the regular season.