DENTON, Texas (Nov. 30) – The TWU basketball team struggled on offense but the Pioneer defense was up to the task as they captured a 54-46 overtime win over Texas Wesleyan.  With the win TWU improved to 5-2 on the season.
 
The Pioneers shot just 28.8 percent from the floor but held Texas Wesleyan to just 27.3 percent.  TWU forced 22 turnovers and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds for 22 second chance points.
 
Junior Erin Maxwell led the team with 12 points while freshman Kara Mitchell added 11 points and junior Emily Spector scored 10 points off the bench.  Maxwell also led the Pioneers with seven rebounds and three blocks and Mitchell cleared six boards.  Junior Taylor Nolan recorded five rebounds off the bench including four on offense.
 
The Lady Rams scored the game's first eight points and led by as many as 14 points in the first quarter.  TWU scored four straight points before the end of the quarter to cut the deficit to 10 points, 18-8.
 
Trailing 23-13 with three minutes to go in the second quarter, the Pioneers went on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to one at the break.  Spector hit the only three pointer of the game in the final seconds to make it 25-24.
 
In the third quarter both teams went back and forth with nine lead changes.  Trailing 35-34, Mitchell gave the Pioneers a 36-35 lead at the end of the third with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
 
In the fourth quarter TWU built a four-point lead, 43-39, with 1:30 left on the clock.  Texas Wesleyan tied the game on two free throws and a lay-up in the finals seconds to force overtime.
 
In the overtime it was all Pioneers as they got to the free-throw line and outscored the Lady Rams, 11-3.  TWU made seven of 10 free throws to seal the win.
 
"We didn't come out ready to play and didn't make shots in the beginning of the game," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "Our defense was good.  We started attacking the rim in overtime and got to the free throw line.  That was the difference in the game."
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they host Oklahoma Christian on Thursday, Dec. 3.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.