Preview: Pioneers at Best Western Premier Pioneer Classic
 
DENTON, Texas (Nov. 17, 2017) - Texas Woman's University basketball hosts the annual Best Western Premier Pioneer Classic Saturday and Sunday to face Regis and Central Oklahoma inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
About the Pioneers
TWU is 2-0 on the young season with wins over St. Mary's and Western State last week in the TexAnn TipOff Classic. Junior guard Desiree Phipps was honored as the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her play in the tournament where she shot over 80-percent from the floor in the wins, including a 6-of-8 showing from the three-point line and averaged 13.0 points per game. While Phipps leads TWU in scoring, senior forward Alexis Nezianya averages a team-high 10 rebounds, and junior guard Kara Mitchell is posting six assists per contest.
 
Texas Woman's (2-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. Regis (0-1, 0-0 RMAC)
Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
Denton, Texas (Kitty Magee Arena)

About Regis
During RU's first and only game of the 2017-18 season, the Rangers went down to the wire with West Texas A&M in a 58-53 loss Nov. 11. Majestie Robinson scored 20 for Regis, and Jaz'Myne Snipes picked up 10. The Rangers were selected to finish third in the 15-team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the preseason poll and received one first-place vote.
 
History between TWU and RU
The Rangers have earned a 3-1 all-time series edge over the Pioneers in a series that begin during the 1987-88 season with then-Regis College taking a 72-61 victory. The Pioneers won the most recent matchup, a 69-59 win, Nov. 23, 2013.
 
Last meeting of the Pioneers and Rangers
DENTON, Texas (Nov. 23, 2013) – Five TWU players scored in double-figures as the Pioneers picked up a 69-59 victory over Regis on Saturday afternoon in the 2013 Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere.
Freshman Kenesha Saygo came off the Pioneers' bench and scored a team-high 15 points while junior Toree Mason and Barbara-Scott Kolb each added 12 points for TWU. Senior Rebekah Cluley and sophomore Danielle Westerfield chipped in 11 points apiece for the Pioneers. Mason and Westerfield were the leaders on defense with eight rebounds each.
 
Texas Woman's (2-0, 0-0 LSC) vs. Central Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.
Denton, Texas (Kitty Magee Arena)

About Central Oklahoma
The Bronchos are 3-0 on the year with wins over Southeastern Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian. Melinda Murillo leads the team in scoring with 17.0 points per game, and Jesheon Cooper averages a double-double with 13 points and 13.7 rebounds. UCO was chosen to finish third in the 14-team Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and received one first-place vote.
 
History between TWU and UCO
UCO owns a 35-6 advantage over the Pioneers dating to the 1991-92 season. The most recent win for TWU over the Bronchos occurred during the 2010-11 season where the Pioneers took down UCO, 74-73, to earn a bid in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
 
Last meeting of the Pioneers and Bronchos
DENTON, Texas (Nov. 22, 2011) – TWU senior guard Toree Mason scored a game-high 17 points but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers fell to Central Oklahoma, 54-52, at the 2014 Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere on Saturday night.  TWU is now 2-2 on the season.
Mason shot 6-for-11 from the field including 5-for-6 from the three-point range while TWU sophomore Emily Spector added 13 points.  Senior Ria Pateraki and Spector tied for the Pioneer team lead with five rebounds each.