DENTON, Texas (Dec. 14) – Sophomore Taylor Nolan came off the TWU bench and led the team in scoring to help the Pioneers to a 69-66 win over the host Puerto Rico- Bayamón Sunday afternoon.
 
TWU overcame 85-degree heat in an open-air gym setting and light failure midway through the first half to improve to 6-4 on the season.  The lights in the gym went out in the first half but the game wasn't delayed as the officials decided to continue the game in the natural light in the open-air gym.
 
Nolan came off the TWU bench and led four Pioneer players in double-digits with 13 points.  Sophomore Kenesha Saygo and Emily Spector added 12 points each while senior Ria Pateraki chipped in 10.  Senior Barbara-Scott Kolb finished with seven points and six assists while Pateraki and Spector had seven rebounds each.
 
UPRB led most of the first half and had an 11-point lead at 3:30 mark after shooting 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from the three-point range.  The Pioneers used a 12-2 run to close out the half, capped off by a three-pointer at the buzzer by Saygo, to cut their deficit to one, 34-33.
 
TWU started the second half on an 8-3 run to go on top.  The Pioneers used another 9-0 run midway through the second half to take a 50-40 lead.  TWU pushed it to 12-point advantage before UPRB chipped away to make it a one-point game, 62-61, at 3:12 mark.  The Pioneers hung on for the win by hitting 5-of-7 free throws in the final minutes.
 
"That was a very physical game and we were mentally tough to capture the win," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "The style of play is different compared to what we play in the United States and the heat in the gym makes it very hard.  I am proud of the team for battling through all these obstacles and picking up two wins.  Nolan played great this weekend.  She was a spark off the bench."
 
The Pioneers will travel back to Denton on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and will host Wayland Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 20.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.