DENTON, Texas (Jan. 27, 2017) – Texas Woman's University hosts No. 15 Angelo State at Saturday at 7 p.m. inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
TEXAS WOMAN'S (13-6, 6-5 Lone Star) vs. No. 15 ANGELO STATE (15-2, 9-2 Lone Star)
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.
Denton, Texas (Kitty Magee Arena)
 
Game Promotions
Pioneer Basketball Alumni Appreciation
 
About the Pioneers
TWU climbed into the fifth spot in the Lone Star Conference standings with a record of 6-5 following Thursday's 65-64 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.  Against Angelo State, the Pioneers will put their third-ranked scoring defense (62.2 ppg) to work against the Belles' league-leading 81.1 average. Kenesha Saygo ranks third in LSC in scoring (17.2), fourth in free-throw attempts (95), sixth in free-throws made (66) and eighth in field-goal percentage (.420). Grace Mitchell is ninth in blocked shots per game (0.9), and Alexis Nezianya ranks seventh in offensive rebounds per game (2.3).
 
About the Belles
ASU is one game out of first place at 9-2 in the LSC standings, with the two losses coming against West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. The 15.6 scoring margin produced by the Belles is tops in the league, as is their turnover margin (5.29), assist/turnover ratio (1.17) and assists per game (15.71). ASU is led by LSC scoring leader Taylor Dorsey's 18.2 points per game and LSC Preseason Player of the Year Jasmine Prophet's 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. Prophet is first in the league in field goal percentage (.593), free-throw percentage (.821) and blocked shots per game (1.5).
 
History amongst Texas Woman's and Angelo State
The Belles lead the all-time series over the Pioneers, 35-22, dating to the 1987-88 season.  Over the past five seasons, the Belles hold a slight 6-5 advantage, but if history continues, the Pioneers are on track for a victory as each squad has earned one win each year.
 
Last meeting between TWU and ASU
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Dec. 3, 2016) – Texas Woman's University opened the contest against sixth-ranked Angelo State on a 9-0 run, but ASU controlled the boards in a 74-53 over the Pioneers Saturday night Stephens Arena in the Junell Center to give the Pioneers an 0-2 start in Lone Star Conference play.
 
ASU (6-0, 2-0 LSC) outrebounded TWU (5-3, 0-2 LSC) 50-25 and had four players in double figures while the Pioneers were led by 15 points from Kenesha Saygo. Neither team shot well from the outside, as the Belles made 4-of-18 and TWU hit 4-of-15, while ASU went 14-of-17 from the free throw line and the Pioneers made 3-of-8 attempts.
 
Pioneers escape with 65-64 win over Javelinas
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.