DENTON, Texas (Nov. 22) – TWU junior
Kenesha Saygo and sophomore
Morgan Easley each scored 16 points but the Pioneers dropped a 74-69 decision to Colorado State-Pueblo at the Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere.
Freshman
Kara Mitchell came off the bench and joined Easley and Saygo in double-digit scoring with 11 points. Junior
Erin Maxwell and sophomore
Alexis Nezianya both led the team with seven rebounds each. Nezianya also led the game with six assists.
After averaging 14.5 points and shooting 57.1 percent from the floor in the two games, Easley was selected to the all-tournament team.
The Pioneers built an early six-point lead in the first quarter but a 7-1 run by CSUP tied the score at 9-9. TWU regained the lead on two free throws by a jumper by the ThunderWolves evened the score at 11-11 at the end of the quarter.
The Pioneers again built a six-point lead in the second quarter but CSUP used a 12-2 run to take a four-point lead. Trailing by four points with 45 seconds left in the quarter, TWU scored four straight points on a jumper and two free throws to even the score at 31-31 at the break.
In the third neither team led by more than four points the entire quarter. After five ties and seven lead changes, the Pioneers took a 54-53 lead after three quarters.
TWU extended its lead to four points on a three pointer to start the fourth and led 59-55 before the ThunderWolves went on a run. CSUP went on 14-2 run to go on top 69-61 with 3:43 left in the game. The Pioneers cut the deficit to five twice in the final three minutes but that's the closest they would get as they dropped their second straight game.
"We did not get in a rhythm offensively throughout the game and defensively we did a very poor job defending inside," said TWU head coach
Beth Jillson. "Tonight we were trying to find a line-up that will bring energy to the floor.
Jayzhia Softly came off the bench and gave us a spark. We have to regroup from this weekend and get better especially on the boards. Disappointed that we dropped two games at home but it's still early in the season and we are ready to get back to work."
The Pioneers will return to action when they hit the road and head north to Ada, OK, to face East Central on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Kerr Activities Center.
