DENTON, Texas (Nov. 18, 2016) – Texas Woman's University basketball hosts the 2016 Best Western Premiere Pioneer Classic Nov. 19-20 while taking on regional opponents Newman and UC-Colorado Springs.
TEXAS WOMAN'S (3-0, 0-0 Lone Star) vs. NEWMAN (1-2, 0-0 Heartland)
Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.
Denton, Texas (Kitty Magee Arena)
About the Pioneers
TWU opened the 2016-17 season with wins against Heartland Conference opponents Texas A&M International and Arkansas-Fort Smith along with Adams State out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The 3-0 mark is the best start since the 2011-12 season.
About the Jets
Newman suffered a pair of season opening losses at the Heartland/RMAC Challenge against UCCS and Regis before recording their first win with an 87-18 thrashing of Central Christian College Monday.
History between Texas Woman's and Newman
This will be the first meeting of the two squads.
Nezianya grabs Defensive POTW award
RICHARDSON, Texas (Nov. 16, 2016) –
Alexis Nezianya of Texas Woman's University claimed the first Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week accolade for the 2016-17 season as announced by the league office Wednesday.
Nezianya anchored the inside for the Pioneers during a 3-0 opening week. While playing an average of 17 minutes, the junior forward averaged 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and one block in victories against Texas A&M International, Adams State and Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Carrollton native posted career-highs of 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the win against ASU on Saturday.
Nezianya was an LSC All-Defensive Team selection last season, and this award marks the second of her career.
Big home opener win for Pioneers
DENTON, Texas (Nov. 15, 2016) – Texas Woman's University opened up their home slate with a 75-65 win over in-region opponent Arkansas-Fort Smith Tuesday night inside Kitty Magee Arena, paced by a game-high 25 points from
Kenesha Saygo.
The Pioneers (3-0) were outrebounded 41-to-27, but picked up the slack at the free throw line by knocking down 25 of their 30 attempts.
Grace Mitchell registered 10 points while
Bri'anna Gray posted seven points and seven rebounds.
Jazmine Spears of UAFS recorded the first points of the night on two buckets, but Mitchell met her on the next trip down the floor and denied her shot twice to set the defensive tone for the Pioneers. Saygo notched the first points for TWU at the 6:36 mark on a three, but seven straight points by the Lady Lions (2-1) put the Pioneers at an 11-4 deficit. A basket in the paint by
Alexis Nezianya and a three from
Emily Spector then narrowed the margin to 11-9.
Desiree Phipps knocked down two free throws at the start of the second quarter and
Emily Spector drilled a three from the top of the key for the first Pioneer lead on the evening. Saygo scored a turnaround in the lane to begin a 7-0 TWU run that was capped by a spin move and left-handed finish in the lane by
KJ Stastny for a 28-18 Pioneer advantage. A baseline drive by Phipps at the buzzer kept the 10-point lead safe for TWU heading into halftime up 36-26.
The Lady Lions cut into the lead with a field goal and a free throw within the first minute of the third quarter, but Mitchell responded with a 15-foot jumper and a pair from the line, and Gray chipped in two more to increase the Pioneer advantage to 42-29. A UAFS three-pointer and two free throws within the final minute of the quarter cut the margin to 53-42, but Mapua flung in a three from the baseline with three seconds left to up the lead to 56-42.
Mapua scored another three from the same spot seven seconds into fourth quarter, and
Cienna Rodriguez tossed in another trey from the left baseline to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the night, 64-44. UAFS pulled to within 14 with just over three minutes left to play, but Saygo delivered the five final Pioneer points for the victory.
