FORT SMITH, Ark. (Dec. 12) – TWU junior
Kenesha Saygo led the game in scoring while junior
Erin Maxwell and freshman
Kara Mitchell recorded career highs to help the Pioneers to a 92-87 overtime win at Arkansas-Fort Smith. With the win the Pioneers improved their record to 7-2 on the season.
Saygo led all players with 24 points on 6-for-15 shooting including 5-for-5 from the three-point range. Maxwell scored a career-high 20 points and cleared a team-high nine rebounds while Mitchell tied her career-high with 17 points. Sophomore
Morgan Easley also reached double digits in scoring with 10 points while sophomore
Alexis Nezianya added six points and six rebounds.
In the first quarter both teams traded points early before the UAFS went on a 7-1 run to take a 16-10 lead at 4:44 mark. The Pioneers answered with six straight points to even the score but the Lady Lions responded with an 8-0 run to take a 24-16 lead. TWU cut the deficit to six on a pair of free throws by Mitchell at the end of the quarter.
UAFS started the second quarter with four straight point to make it a 10-point game. The Pioneers cut the deficit back to six points on a lay-up and two free throws and stayed within six the rest of the quarter. TWU made it a three-point game on a late three by junior
Deja Pointer but a jumper at the buzzer by UAFS made it 43-38 at the break.
The Lady Lions pushed the lead back to seven points, 51-44, halfway through the third quarter. TWU regrouped and used an 11-3 run to take their first lead of the game, 55-54, at 2:43 mark. UAFS responded with six straight points to go back on top, 60-55. Saygo cut the deficit to two with a three pointer and the Pioneers tied the score at 60-60 on a layup by Nezianya in the final seconds of the quarter.
With the score tied at 65-65 in the fourth quarter, TWU went on an 11-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game, 76-67, with 3:49 left in the game. The Lady Lions responded with an 11-2 run of their own to even the score at 78-78 with 11 seconds left on the clock. Saygo had the opportunity at the line to put TWU back on top in the final seconds but missed both free throws.
However, Saygo started the overtime with a three pointer and the Pioneers never gave-up the lead. TWU knocked down 9 of 12 free throws in the extra period and Maxwell's offensive rebound and a layup in the final minute sealed the win.
"It was a hard fought battle between two good teams," said TWU head coach
Beth Jillson. "This is an important in-region road win for us. I am proud of our aggressiveness, execution offensively and getting to the free-throw line. Saygo played a great game and knocked down some big three pointers. Erin and Kara also stepped up offensively and Erin's offensive rebound and the layup in overtime was huge."
The Pioneers shot 58.3 (7-for-12) from the three-point range and outrebounded UAFS, 51-39.
The Pioneers will return to action when they start a five-game homestand next week. TWU will host Wayland Baptist on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.
