DENTON, Texas (Jan. 28) – TWU sophomore
Emily Spector scored a career-high 24 points but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers fell to visiting Texas A&M-Commerce, 73-61, in overtime in front a season-high Pack the House IV crowd of 844.
The Pioneers, riddled by injury and sickness, played without seniors
Barbara-Scott Kolb,
Toree Mason and
Ria Pateraki.
Spector's game-high point total came on 8-for-14 shooting including 2-for-5 from the three-point range and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. She also led the Pioneers on defense with eight rebounds and a career-high five blocks and three steals. Junior
Danielle Westerfield came off the TWU bench and added 14 points while sophomore
Kenesha Saygo finished with 11 points for the Pioneers. Saygo and freshman
Morgan Easley each handed out five assists while Easley led TWU with four steals.
The Lions scored the first basket of the game but TWU scored the next 14 points to take a 12-point lead. A&M-Commerce chipped away to cut the deficit to three points, 28-25, with 56 seconds left in the first half. Saygo hit two free-throws in the final seconds to give the Pioneers a five-point lead at the break.
In the second half, TWU pushed its lead back to double-digits, 50-40, with 11:00 left on the clock. The Lions again chipped away to cut the deficit to one at 4:41 mark. Saygo put the Pioneers back on top by four with a three-pointer with 2:29 left on the clock but A&M-Commerce scored four straight points to tie the score. Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the final 1:30 but could not find the basket.
In overtime, TWU took the early 59-57 lead but the Lions scored the next 10 points to go on top 67-59. A&M-Commerce sealed the win going 10-for-10 from the free throw line in overtime.
"We had a great crowd and a great atmosphere and it's disappointing that we didn't come up with a win," said TWU head coach
Beth Jillson. "Our players fought and they battled but down the stretch we got really stagnant and didn't take the best shot."
The Pioneers are now 12-8 on the season and 5-4 in the Lone Star Conference. TWU will return to action on the road at Tarleton State on Sunday, Feb. 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.
