DENTON, Texas (Nov. 21) – The TWU basketball team defeated visiting Texas Wesleyan, 70-65, Tuesday night in Kitty Magee Arena.  With the win, the Pioneers improved to 3-2 on the season.
 
Senior Ashley Salazar led the Pioneers in scoring with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including 4-for-6 from the three-point range.  Sophomore Kenesha Saygo came off the TWU bench and added 15 points while sophomore Erin Maxwell chipped in eight points as well for the Pioneers.  Seven TWU players recorded four or more rebounds led by sophomore Emily Spector and freshman Morgan Easley with six each.
 
Once again the Pioneers' defense stepped up in the first half.  TWU held the Lady Rams to just nine field goals and 28.1 percent shooting.  The Pioneers opened the game on an 8-0 run but Texas Wesleyan used a 13-2 run to go on top.  TWU regrouped and closed out the half on a 19-6 run to take a 11-point lead at the half.
 
In the second half, the Pioneers extended the lead to 17 points, 61-44, before Texas Wesleyan made a run.  The Lady Rams went on a 19-5 run in the final five minutes to cut the deficit to three points with 36 seconds left.  Saygo hit four straight free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for TWU.
 
"Our bench stepped up big in this game," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "Erin, Morgan, Saygo and Taylor (Nolan) came off the bench and played really well.  We were aggressive and got to the free throw line today, which we didn't do the last game."
 
The Pioneers outrebounded Texas Wesleyan, 39-36, and outscored the Lady Rams, 36-20, in the paint.  The TWU bench scored 36 of the team's 70 points.
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they host East Central on Saturday, Nov. 29.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.