San Antonio College’s women’s basketball team opened its season with a victory Wednesday night, taking down the Northeast Lakeview Nighthawks 63-55 at SAC’s Candler Physical Education Center.
After closing last season with a heartbreaking loss in the Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game and failing to repeat their championship run from 2023, the Lady Armadillos came out determined to make a statement and reclaim their spot at the top.
SAC Guard Casie Guy set the tone for the night, scoring the first and last points of the game and serving as a defensive powerhouse. Guy also had two steals, which she turned into points.
In the second quarter, SAC Point Guard Alexis Castillo and Guard Avah Castillo displayed the chemistry the sisters said they’ve had throughout their careers. The Castillos, who are daughters of Head Coach Abel Castillo, grew up playing together, and they brought strong defense and assisted several teammates on offense.
“I just hope that we can play better, have really good chemistry, and be able to win,” Avah Castillo, who joined the team this year as a freshman, told The Sundial after the game.
Coach Castillo said that effort and confidence is what will define the team’s season.
“Confidence comes from how much or how dedicated you are,” he says. “The more dedicated to something you want — you are going to give more energy to that.”
Assistant Coach Macarthur Eaglin told his team they are much better than the final score reflected.
“As we progress, we’re going to get better,” Eaglin said. “But we got a win. We’re going to take that.”
The Lady Armadillos broke open the game with a 28-point third quarter, pulling away from the Nighthawks with help from another hot start from Guy who went three-for-three coming out of halftime.
The Armadillos looked gassed in the fourth quarter as SAC applied a full-court press at times and fouls piled up. The Nighthawks pulled closer in the fourth, but after two timeouts and several tense possessions, SAC secured the 63–55 victory.
Former SAC Guard Devyn Castillo, who led the Armadillos attack last year while averaging 28 points a game, attended the game, cheering her former team on. Castillo, who is attending UTSA and hoping to earn a spot on the UTSA roster as a walk-on, shared words of encouragement for her former team after the game.
“Believe in yourself; confidence is key,” she said. “That will help you on and off the court.”
The Lady Armadillos return to action Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. when they face Austin Community College on the road.
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