DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2016) – Texas Woman's University basketball travels south for the Bahama House Classic hosted by Embry-Riddle and begins play against Barry University Friday at 12:30 p.m. CST inside ICI Center.
 
TEXAS WOMAN'S (7-3, 2-2 Lone Star) vs. BARRY (4-5, 2-3 Sunshine State)
Friday, Dec. 16 at 12:30 p.m. CST
Daytona Beach, Fla. (ICI Center)
 
About the Pioneers
After picking up their first LSC wins of the season last week, TWU travels to Florida for a pair of non-conference contests in the Bahama House Classic. The games against Barry and Embry-Riddle wrap up 2016, and next the contest for the Pioneers will be at home Jan. 5, 2017, versus Western New Mexico.
 
About the Buccaneers
Barry is led by three players averaging over 10 points per game: Kiara Palmer (13.5 ppg), Lauren Seyranian (13.1) and Elin Ekdahl (10.2). The Bucs have gone 4-5 overall and amassed a 2-3 mark in Sunshine State Conference play.
 
History between Texas Woman's and Barry
This will be the first ever matchup between the squads.
 
Saygo secures LSC Offensive Player of the Week
RICHARDSON, Texas (Dec. 14, 2016) – Kenesha Saygo of Texas Woman's University was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in wins over No. 17 West Texas A&M and UT Permian Basin, as announced Wednesday by the league office.
 
Against the Lady Buffs, the senior posted a season and game-high 28 points and delivered 19 versus the Falcons. Saygo delivered when it was needed most, as she tossed in 20 points after halftime in the WT contest, and tallied 17 in the second half and overtime versus UTPB, included 10 of TWU's 14 points in the extra period.
 
Saygo also scored very efficiently, as she connected on nearly 57-percent of her attempts, including a 6-of-8 performance from beyond the arc while getting to the rim almost at will, as documented by her 20 free throw attempts.
 
This such honor is Saygo's second of her career.
 
Mitchell records double-double in OT win versus UTPB
DENTON, Texas (Dec. 10, 2016) – Grace Mitchell notched her second double-double of the season by posting 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Kenesha Saygo again willed Texas Woman's University after halftime by scoring 17 of her 19 points in a 84-80 overtime win against UT Permian Basin Saturday afternoon inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
Kara Mitchell scored 15 points for the Pioneers (7-3, 2-2 LSC) while Emily Spector grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds in a game with 17 lead changes and 13 ties between the two squads.
 
TWU was hanging onto a 70-66 lead with 44 seconds remaining in regulation following a step back jumper from Spector on the left baseline, but UTPB (4-6, 1-3 LSC) delivered on a quick drive and then floated in the tying bucket with 2.6 seconds on the clock to force the extra period.
 
Eighteen seconds into the overtime period, Morgan Easley was successful on a drive to the right side while she was fouled and made the ensuing layup for a 73-70 TWU advantage. Saygo drilled a fadeaway and made a hard drive to give the Pioneers a 77-70 cushion with 3:28 left to play.
 
A jumper by the Falcons lessened the gap to 78-74 a minute later before a pair of free throws by Saygo. UTPB banked in a three-pointer to pull within 80-77 and 58 seconds on the clock, and another trey with 18 ticks remaining made it a two-point game. The Pioneers called a timeout in order to advance the ball as UTPB committed a foul to send Saygo to the line where she nailed both shots to place the lead to 84-80. The Falcons were unable to get a look final look to give TWU the victory.
 
Saygo gave the Pioneers an early 9-4 lead on a drive where she was fouled, but five straight points by UTPB knotted the game at 9-9. Kara Mitchell produced a strong play in the paint for a 14-13 edge before the Falcons scored in the point for a 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Grace Mitchell knocked down two shots within the first minute of quarter two before UTPB took a one-point lead midway through the period. KJ Stastny drilled a three from the left baseline and Grace Mitchell placed in a putback before hitting an elbow jumper to put the Pioneers up 28-22. The Falcons closed the half on a 6-2 run to pull within 30-28 at the break.
 
A free throw by Spector in the third quarter gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the contest at 40-33, but UTPB outscored TWU 12-3 over the next four minutes to take a 45-43 lead with two minutes to go. Kara Mitchell then took over by scoring twice through the lane and making a pair of free throws to put the Pioneers up 49-48 heading into the fourth. In the final quarter, the teams tied the score six times and exchanged the lead twice before heading into overtime tied 70-70.