DENTON, Texas (Feb. 21) – TWU junior Kenesha Saygo scored a career-high 31 points to help the Pioneers to a 77-70 win over visiting Angelo State Sunday afternoon.  With the win TWU improved to 20-7 on the season and 10-5 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
It's the Pioneers' second 20-win season in program history.  TWU also recorded 20 wins in 2010-11 when the Pioneers captured the LSC Championship and finished with a 22-11 record.
 
Saygo shot 11-for-17 from the floor including 9-for-14 from the three-point range.  The nine field goals from behind the arc are one shy of a single-game school record.  Junior Deja Pointer also reached double digits in scoring with 13 points while sophomore Morgan Easley came off the bench and added nine points.
 
Angelo State scored the game's first 11 points but the Pioneers responded with a 16-6 run to cut the deficit to one.  The Rambelles had a three-point play in the final minute and took a 20-16 at the end of the first quarter.
 
ASU pushed the lead back to nine points, 34-25, halfway through the second quarter.  TWU again responded with a run to make it 39-38 at the break.
 
In the third quarter Saygo took over and helped the Pioneers start the quarter on a 16-0 run and a 54-39 lead.  She scored 12 of the 16 points on four three-point field goals.  The Rambelles chipped away to make it 60-53 after three quarters.
 
ASU started the four quarter on an 8-2 run to make it a one-point game, 62-61.  The Pioneers responded with three straight jumpers to push the lead back to seven points.  TWU maintained at least a four-point lead the rest of the way to capture a seven-point victory.
 
"It was a game of runs and I am proud of the team for playing really smart down the stretch," said TWU head coach Beth Jillson.  "We had some bigtime rebounds and baskets in critical segments of the game.  Saygo got hot and remained a threat throughout the game.  It was a great atmosphere especially with the band and the fans really helped us out.  I want to give a shout out to Overflow, all the basketball alumni that were in attendance and the P.I.P. group."
 
The Pioneers outrebounded Angelo State, 46-35.  TWU also had 21 second chance points on 16 offensive rebounds.
 
The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 24 when they host Cameron at 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.  TWU will honor its lone senior – Danielle Westerfield – in a pregame ceremony.