WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Nov. 14) – The TWU basketball team used a late third-quarter run to capture a 56-41 win over Rogers State at Ashbrook Classic hosted by Midwestern State.  With the win the Pioneers improved to 2-0 on the young season.
 
TWU was led by junior Erin Maxwell with a game-high 10 points.  She also added six rebounds and four blocks.  Sophomore Morgan Easley chipped in nine points while sophomore Alexis Nezianya scored eight points.  Senior Danielle Westerfield and freshman Bri'anna Gray added six points each.
 
The Pioneers struggled in the first half with just 27.3 shooting percentage but hit 50.0 percent of their shots in the second half.  TWU outscored Rogers State, 16-1, from the free-throw line and, 15-6, in second-chance points.
 
The Pioneers scored the first basket of the game before going cold as they missed their next eight shots.  Roger State scored eight straight points to take an 8-2 lead but TWU regrouped and closed out the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 9-8 lead.
 
In the second quarter both teams went back and forth with five lead changes.  With the score knotted at 20-20, the Hillcats outscored TWU, 5-3, in the final three minutes to take a 25-23 halftime lead.
 
Both teams again traded baskets to start the third quarter and the score was tied at 31-31 with 6:16 left on the clock.  The Pioneers used an 8-0 run to close out the third quarter and took a 39-31 lead after three.
 
TWU continued its run to start the fourth and used an 8-2 run to push the lead to 14 points with five minutes left in the game.  Rogers State cut the deficit to 10 points on back-to-back basketball but the Pioneers knocked down 7 of 10 free throws in the final minutes to capture a 15-point win.
 
"We struggled with our shooting tonight especially in the first half," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "We stayed in the game with a great defensive effort.  We had a big run towards the end of third quarter to build double-digit lead and knocked down free throws at the end to seal the win." 
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they make their home debut and host their annual Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere on Nov. 21-22.  TWU will face Colorado Christian on the first day on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.