ODESSA, Texas (Nov. 11, 2016) – Texas Woman's University plays its final regular season match Saturday at 2 p.m. against UT Permian Basin for a chance to play in next week's conference tournament.
 
TEXAS WOMAN'S (9-19, 5-14 LSC) vs. UT PERMIAN BASIN (7-22, 3-16 LSC)
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.
Falcon Dome (Odessa, Texas)
 
About the Pioneers
The match against the Falcons is a crucial one, as the Pioneers need a win to grab the eighth and final spot in the Lone Star Conference tournament. The Pioneers are 5-14 in the LSC standings, one win behind Midwestern State whose regular season slate is done. Should the teams both conclude with the same record, TWU would earn the final spot as the Pioneers hold the tiebreaker after winning both contests against MSU this season. 
 
About the Falcons
UTPB will finish in 10^th place in the 11-team league regardless of the outcome against the Pioneers.
 
History between Texas Woman's and UT Permian Basin
The two squads have met six times dating to the 2007 season with the Pioneers holding a 4-2 edge over the Falcons.
 
Last meeting of TWU and UTPB
DENTON, Texas (Oct. 14, 2016) – Sara Oxford and Briley Cole recorded career-highs in kills, and several reserves stepped up for Texas Woman's University in a match against UT Permian Basin Friday night inside Kitty Magee Arena, but the Pioneer efforts fell just short in a 3-2 loss to the Falcons.
 
The offensive efforts by Oxford and Cole delivered 22 and 15 kills, respectively, and were complemented by the defensive works of Skyler Friel's eight blocks. Oxford also produced 10 digs for a double-double, and Katy Ranes also did double duty with 34 assists and 21 digs in the five-set loss (22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 14-16).
 
Pioneers lose in straight sets to WT
CANYON, Texas (Nov. 11, 2016) – Texas Woman's University struggled offensively in a 3-0 loss to West Texas A&M Friday night inside The Box as the Pioneers hit just .047 compared to .274 from the Lady Buffs.
 
With the loss, the Pioneers (9-19, 5-14 LSC) are still in the hunt for the final conference tournament spot due to Midwestern State dropping their contest tonight as well. TWU must win their next and final match tomorrow at UT Permian Basin in order to take over the final place, as the Pioneers own the tiebreaker over MSU.
 
The Pioneers placed the first two points of the night on the board, but the Lady Buffs (17-13, 11-8 LSC) quickly responded with 10 straight. Courtney Noel delivered a pair of kills and a block alongside Briley Cole to cut into WT's lead, 12-7. Back-to-back kills by Sara Oxford and another by Haley Collins made it a 17-11 contest before the Lady Buffs closed the frame on a 7-2 run.
 
TWU took a 6-5 lead in set two on a block by Oxford and Collins and surged ahead 17-12 following a 4-0 run. The Lady Buffs answered by scoring seven of the next eight points to jump ahead 19-18. Trailing 24-23, Collins tallied a tip and a kill to the middle of the floor to place the Pioneers at set point. The teams battled back and forth up until 28-28 when WT recorded consecutive kills to take the set.
 
The Lady Buffs opened set three with an 8-3 run before Oxford recorded a kill. A WT service error made it a 14-6 contest in favor of the Lady Buffs and four straight points increased the lead to 18-6. The Pioneers attempted to gain some ground following three WT attack errors at 21-12, but the Lady Buffs wrapped up the match with four straight points.