COMMERCE, Texas (Jan. 14, 2017) – Emily Spector and Kenesha Saygo of Texas Woman's University combined for 18 points in the final five minutes and connected on their last eight free throw attempts to thwart Texas A&M-Commerce during a 75-69 win Saturday afternoon inside The Field House.
 
The Pioneers (11-5, 4-4 LSC) spoiled TAMUC's bid for their best start in program history and handed the Lions (10-4, 5-3 LSC) their first home loss of the season. Spector was a catalyst on both ends of the floor and notched her second double-double of the season with game-highs of 23 points and 10 boards while collecting three steals and a block. Saygo registered 19 points and four steals as the duo scored 27 of the team's final 28 points.
 
Saygo drilled a pull-up three at the 4:55 mark of the fourth quarter to regain the lead for the Pioneers at 60-59. The Lions hit a pair from the line to crawl back ahead, but Spector ripped down an offensive board for a putback and a 62-61 advantage with 3:18 to play. TAMUC hit three of from the line to go up 64 -63 before Spector made a free throw and nailed a three from the top for a 66-65 Pioneer advantage with 1:16 remaining. The lead switched hands following an and-one by the Lions, but Saygo reclaimed it, 69-68, on a three-point play after driving to the hoop and crashing to the ground.
 
With 27 seconds on the clock, the Lions misfired on two shots inside the paint leading to a rebound by Saygo who was fouled and converted the two freebies to put TWU up 71-68 with 21 seconds to play. TAMUC was fouled on a drive and hit one-of-two to pull within a pair before again fouling Saygo who again made both free throws for a 73-69 advantage as 11 seconds remained. Spector came up with steal on TAMUC's end of the floor and sealed the victory with two from the line.
 
Alexis Nezianya was at the forefront of the Pioneer offense in the opening minutes of the contest by scoring three buckets in the lane to bring TWU into a 10-10 tie, and Kara Mitchell provided the Pioneers with their first lead of the game at 12-10 off of a drive to the basket from a high screen. The Lions scored at the first quarter buzzer to take a 17-13 lead.
 
Cienna Rodriguez knocked down two free throws, Saygo dropped in a three from the top of the key and Andrea Mapua scored on a putback for a 7-0 TWU run and 32-24 lead halfway through the second quarter. TAMUC closed the period with four free throws to cut the Pioneer lead to 37-35 heading into halftime.
 
Spector came out hot after the break and hit a jumper as well as a three from the top to put the Pioneers up 42-35 less than a minute into the third quarter, and Saygo was successful on a pull up three to increase the margin to double-digits. Mapua registered a shot from deep to extend the lead to 51-40 at the 6:42 mark before TAMUC ended the period by scoring seven unanswered to cut the margin to 55-53 heading into the final quarter.
 
The Pioneers return home to host Midwestern State Thursday at 7 p.m.