DENTON, Texas (Nov. 28) – Six players scored eight or more points as the Pioneers cruised to a 73-53 win over visiting Henderson State Saturday afternoon.  With the win TWU improved to 4-2 on the season.
 
Juniors Kenesha Saygo and Emily Spector and freshman Kara Mitchell scored 10 points each while senior Danielle Westerfield and junior Erin Maxwell added nine points apiece and junior Andrea Mapua finished with eight.  Maxwell led the team on defense with six rebounds and four blocks and sophomore Morgan Easley posted a team-best five steals.
 
The Pioneers scored the game's first six points but Henderson State responded with a 13-6 run to go on top 13-12.  With the scored tied at 15-15, TWU closed out the quarter with six straight points to take a 21-15 lead
 
In the second quarter the Pioneers pushed the lead to double digits, 35-24, halfway through the quarter.  TWU closed out the second quarter with another 6-0 run to take a 42-26 lead at the break.
 
The Pioneers pushed the lead to 17 points early in the third quarter before HSU went on a run.  The Reddies used a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to single digits, 51-42.  TWU answered with four points in the final minute of the quarter to take a 55-42 lead.
 
The Pioneers maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and pushed the lead to 19 points with one minute left in the game.  With TWU leading, 70-53, sophomore Kayla Beattie gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the game with an old fashioned three-point play with 27 seconds left in the game.
 
"This is a great team win and we had lot of players contribute on offense," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "Our bench contribution was huge with half of our points.  Dani, Spector and Mapua provided spark off the bench.  Our defense was great the entire game.  We turned our defense into offense with lot of steals and block shots."
 
TWU outscored the Reddies 36-26 in the paint and scored 31 points off HSU's 24 turnovers.  The Pioneers also had 16 steals and seven block shots.
 
TWU will return to action on Monday, Nov. 30 when they host Texas Wesleyan.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.