DENTON, Texas (Jan. 24) – The TWU basketball team dropped an 81-78 decision on the road at Angelo State Sunday afternoon in Junell Center.  The Pioneers are now 16-4 on the season and 6-2 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
TWU had six players with seven points or more led by junior Kenesha Saygo with 14 points.  Sophomore Cienna Rodriguez came off the bench and added 13 points while junior Emily Spector and sophomore Morgan Easley had 11 points each.  Junior Deja Pointer added nine points while junior Erin Maxwell finished with seven points.
 
The Pioneers started the game slow as they fell behind 13-5 halfway through the first quarter and trailed 19-12 at the end of the quarter.  TWU used a 14-7 run to start the second and tied the score at 26-26.  After three more ties and three lead changes, ASU took a 36-35 lead at the break.
 
In the third quarter TWU outscored the Rambelles, 14-6, in the first four minutes to take a 49-42 lead.  ASU rallied to even the score at 54-54 with a 10-3 run.  The Pioneers responded with a 6-0 run in the final minute to take a 66-60 lead after three.
 
TWU pushed the lead to nine points in the fourth quarter but the Rambelles used a 13-2 run to take a 78-76 lead with 43 seconds left in the game.  The Pioneers tied the score on a pair of free throws by Spector but the Rambelles made three free throws of their own in the final 13 seconds to capture the win.
 
The Pioneers caught fire from the three-point range this game as they made 12 of 27 from behind the arc.  TWU also had 20 points off ASU turnovers and 35 bench points.
 
"This is a tough loss on the road against a good team," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "Our players battled after we got down early in the first quarter.  We will learn from it and will regroup for our next game on Wednesday."
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they travel to Lawton, OK, to face Cameron on Wednesday, Jan. 27.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Aggie Gym.