DENTON, Texas (Nov. 29) – TWU sophomores Emily Spector and Kenesha Saygo recorded double-doubles to lead the Pioneers to a 64-55 win over visiting East Central on Saturday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena.  With the win, TWU improved its record to 4-2 while handing the Tigers (4-1) their first loss of the season.
 
Spector led all players in the game with a career-high 17 points while Saygo came off the TWU bench and added 14.  Both cleared 11 rebounds while Spector blocked three shots and recorded three steals.  Seniors Ria Pateraki and Toree Mason, junior Danielle Westerfield and sophomore Erin Maxwell all chipped in six points each for the Pioneers.
 
For the fourth straight game, the Pioneers' defense held their opponent to under 30 percent shooting and single-digit field goals in the first half.  East Central shot 22.6 percent and made just seven field goals in the opening 20 minutes.  TWU started the game on a 9-0 run but the Tigers rallied to cut the deficit to three points, 16-13, at 9:05 mark.  The Pioneers used a 19-4 run to build an 18-point advantage before taking a 35-21 lead at the break.
 
TWU maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half before the Tigers used a 6-0 run to make it a nine-point game, 51-42, with 6:27 left in regulation.  The Pioneers pushed the lead back to 12 points but ECU again rallied with a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to four points.  Saygo scored the next six points for TWU, including 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, to push the Pioneers' lead back to 10.  After a made jumper by the Tigers, Saygo made two more free-throws to seal the win for TWU.
 
"We did a good job getting ball inside and executing the offense," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "We took high percentage shots and our defense played well holding them to 30 percent shooting.  It was a good team win." 
 
After shooting 43.3 percent in the first half, the Pioneers hit 56.3 percent of their shots in the second half.  TWU also outrebounded the Tigers, 40-32, and outscored them, 26-12, in the paint.
 
The Pioneers will continue their six-game home stand when they host Lubbock Christian on Wednesday, Dec. 3.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.