The St. Edmond girls will get a first-hand look at a state contender right off the bat here Tuesday night, as they open the 2024-25 season vs. No. 1 (Class 1A) Bishop Garrigan.

Tip in this girls-only contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Following a five-win campaign a year ago, the Gaels (0-0 overall) return all but two players who saw significant minutes including scorer Chloe Palmer, top rebounder Anna Lursen and seniors Payton Bradley and Josie Harvey.

Those four will be joined by sophomore Abby Huss in the first starting lineup for head coach CJ Tracy.

Palmer, a sophomore, scored 204 points a year ago while grabbing 114 rebounds and dishing out 40 assists with 37 steals. She also knocked down a team-high 24 three-pointers.

Lursen, a junior, recorded 198 rebounds with 108 coming on the offensive glass. She added 139 points, 88 steals and 41 assists. Bradley scored 106 points in 19 games while Harvey added 159 with 46 steals.

Huss accounted for 73 points with 49 rebounds and eight steals.

Bishop Garrigan (0-0), who reached the state tournament for a fifth consecutive season last year, returns Graclyn Eastman. The sophomore posted 16.6 points and almost 11 rebounds per game.

Joining her will be senior Zoe Montag and juniors Emmi Bartolo and Sacha Alesch. The Golden Bears have gone 124-11 over the last five years while winning back-to-back state titles thanks in large part to current Iowa State star Audi Crooks and Truman State’s Molly Joyce.

St. Edmond leads the series 10-7 since 2006, but Bishop Garrigan has won the last five meetings.