DENTON, Texas (Jan. 2) – The TWU basketball team defeated visiting Midwestern State, 71-45, to capture its 10th straight win Saturday afternoon in Kitty Magee Arena.  With the win the Pioneers improved to 12-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
Junior Erin Maxwell posted a near double-double with a team-best 20 points and nine rebounds.  She blocked six shots and has a NCAA Division II best 48 blocks on the season.  Junior Kenesha Saygo also reached double digits with 12 points while freshman Kara Mitchell added nine points and five assists.  Sophomore Alexis Nezianya finished with seven points and six rebounds.
 
The Pioneers led by six points, 17-11, after the first quarter but used a 6-0 run to start the second to make it a 23-11 lead.  TWU used a 9-0 run at the end of the second quarter to take a 33-16 lead at the break.
 
The Pioneers took the game's biggest lead, 47-18, halfway through the third quarter and led by 25 points after three.  TWU maintained at least a 20-point lead throughout the fourth quarter before settling for a 26-point win.
 
"In the first quarter we started little slow but got better as we went along," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "We started to attack the gaps, knock down open shots and got the ball inside.  Our defense is pretty solid and our guards have stepped up with their on ball pressure.  Our best defender is Morgan Easley and she can lock down on anybody.  It doesn't show in the stats but she is an incredible defender."
 
The Pioneers outrebounded MSU, 50-33, and outscored the Mustangs, 34-18, in the paint.  TWU also finished with 10 blocks and held Midwestern State to 23.4 percent shooting.  The Pioneers shot 50.0 percent from the floor including 55.0 percent in the first half.
 
The Pioneers will now hit the road and head to Portales, NM, to face Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, Jan. 5.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CST) in Greyhound Arena.