DENTON, Texas (Jan. 26, 2017) – A game-winning layup by Grace Mitchell on an assist from Kara Mitchell coupled with a final defensive stop by Texas Woman's University saved the Pioneers in a 65-64 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday night inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
TWU (13-6, 6-5 Lone Star) entered the second half of conference play by avenging the 67-55 loss to the Javelinas (9-9, 5-7 Lone Star) during opening weekend of league play back on Dec. 1. Kenesha Saygo dropped a team-high 25 points, while Emily Spector contributed 14 and a game-high eight rebounds.
 
TAMUK led 63-60 following an and-one with 1:11 to play before Saygo's three 16 seconds later knotted the score. A foul by the Pioneers led to the Javelinas hitting one-of-two from the free throw line with 31 seconds remaining. After the bucket by Grace Mitchell, TAMUK raced up the floor and attempted to find a good look before finally forcing a shot off of the backboard as the buzzer sounded for the TWU victory.
 
Morgan Easley knocked down a free throw for the first point of the evening 30 seconds into the contest. The teams traded buckets throughout the first 10 minutes and ended the quarter in an 11-11 deadlock. Two free throws by Bri'anna Gray began a 13-5 run five minutes into the second period capped by a Spector three for a 25-16 TWU advantage. Another trey by Spector upped the lead to 11 a minute later before the Javelinas closed to within 31-24 at the half.
 
The Pioneers stretched the lead to 43-30 on a bucket in the paint by Grace Mitchell halfway through the third quarter. TAMUK cut the gap to single digits at 48-40 heading into the fourth. Kaylin Roher hit her sixth three-pointer at the 8:33 mark to pull TAMUK to within 48-45, and the Javelinas cut the margin to one on three occasions to trail 53-52 with 5:43 to play. Easley recorded her first three-pointer on the season to extend the lead to 56-52, but TAMUK continued to fight and tied the game on a jumper at 58-58 with three minutes left. The contest stayed tied at 60-60 with 1:57 on the clock after a pair of Javelina free throws leading into the intense final 71 seconds.
 
The Pioneers host No. 15 Angelo State Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Kitty Magee Arena.