DENTON, Texas (Jan. 28, 2016) – Kenesha Saygo scored a career-high 33 points for Texas Woman's University against No. 15 Angelo State, but the Pioneers totaled just 40 additional points in an 81-73 loss Saturday afternoon inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
Saygo eclipsed her previous high of 31 set last year against the Belles on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor and 9-of-15 from the free throw line. The 33 points are the second-highest output from a Lone Star Conference player this season. Emily Spector contributed 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
TWU (13-7, 6-6 LSC) never led throughout the contest, due in part to ASU's hot shooting early that put the Pioneers at a 15-8 deficit halfway through the first quarter before Saygo drained a three. The Belles (16-2, 10-2 LSC) jumped out to a double-digit lead with a minute remaining in the period, but a jumper by Bri'Anna Gray cut the deficit to 25-17.
 
ASU recorded the first six points of the second quarter to extend their lead to 31-17. Saygo connected on a bucket in the paint and three free throws while Spector nailed a shot from behind the arc to pull the Pioneers to within 31-25. A three by Morgan Easley from the left side at the 3:10 mark made it a 33-28 ballgame, but six unanswered points by the Belles pushed the margin to 39-28.
 
A score in the paint by ASU extended the lead to 43-32 at the start of the third as the Pioneers struggled to score from close range, missing five bunnies in the first three minutes of the second half. For the game, TWU made just 12-of-24 layups. Kara Mitchell rebounded her own miss for a putback, and Saygo hit a jumper on the next trip down the floor to pull the Pioneers to within 47-38 with 6:31 on the clock. The Belles made three field goals in the paint and two free throws to go up 59-47 heading into the final quarter.
 
ASU recorded their largest lead of the afternoon at 63-48 less than one minute into the fourth quarter. Saygo drilled a series of three jumpers to whittle the lead to 69-61 with just under four minutes to play, but a 7-2 Belle run in the next 90 seconds stretched the deficit to 76-63. Saygo's last push cut the lead to 79-70 following a stepback three and free throw with 1:20 remaining, but the Pioneers were unable to pull off the comeback.
 
The Pioneers travel out west next week to take on UT Permian Basin Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and West Texas A&M Saturday at 2 p.m.