DENTON, Texas (Jan. 15) – Three TWU players scored in double-figures but it wasn't enough as TWU fell to visiting Cameron, 77-65, Thursday night in Kitty Magee Arena. TWU is now 10-6 on the season and 3-2 in the Lone Star Conference.
Sophomore
Kenesha Saygo led the Pioneers with 20 points while senior
Ashley Salazar added 15 points to the TWU cause. TWU sophomore
Erin Maxwell chipped in 11 points and cleared a game and career-high 14 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season. Sophomore
Deja Pointer also stuffed the stat sheet for the Pioneers as she totaled six points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Pioneers fell behind early in the first half but used a 9-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. TWU maintained the lead throughout the first half and built a 37-29 advantage with 4:02 left. Cameron closed out the half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to two points, 37-35, at the break.
After two ties and five lead changes early in the second half, the Aggies used an 18-3 run to take a 62-44 lead. Trailing by 15 points with 5:54 to go, the Pioneers used an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to six points. Cameron answered with a lay up and five free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.
TWU outrebounded the Aggies, 42-37, including 22 offensive rebounds. The Pioneers also forced 19 turnovers but struggled from the free-throw line making just 13 of 33 foul shot attempts. Cameron shot 53.1 percent from the floor including 64.7 percent (11-for-17) from the three-point range.
"It's tough to win games when you miss that many free throws," said TWU head coach
Beth Jillson. "We shot ball well in the first half and our defense was better but it wasn't great. In the second half we missed lot of free throws and defensively our rotation wasn't very good. They are good three-point shooting team and made some tough contested shots."
The Pioneers will return to action when they travel to Wichita Falls, TX, to face #6 Midwestern State on Sunday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
