DENTON, Texas (Jan. 4, 2016) – Texas Woman's University basketball opens play in 2017 by hosting Lone Star Conference member Western New Mexico Thursday at 7 p.m. inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
TEXAS WOMAN'S (9-3, 2-2 Lone Star) vs. WESTERN NEW MEXICO (4-8, 0-5 Lone Star)
Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
Denton, Texas (Kitty Magee Arena)
 
Game Promotions
TWU Athletics is offering free admission to the contest along with free hot chocolate and coffee to fans (while supplies last).
 
About the Pioneers
TWU is riding a four-game win streak entering the contest against WNMU. The Pioneers last competed 18 days ago and defeated Embry-Riddle, 59-58, at the Bahama House Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla., to conclude the tournament at 2-0. Kenesha Saygo ranks second in the LSC with a 17.6 scoring average, sits third in free throw attempts (55), fourth in field goal percentage (.455) and fifth in free throws made (39).
 
About the Mustangs
WNMU is coming off an 80-67 loss to instate rival Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday to push their losing streak to seven games. The Mustangs are looking for their first league win since joining the Lone Star Conference in 2016-17 after leaving the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Jordan Gutierrez is third in the LSC in scoring with an average of 17.3 points per game and compiled a conference single-game high of 36 points against UT Permian Basin on Dec. 3, 2016.
 
History amongst Texas Woman's and Western New Mexico
The Pioneers and Mustangs have faced each other just once, with TWU earning a 73-53 win during the 2009-10 season.
 
Last meeting between TWU and WNMU
DENTON, Texas (Nov. 20, 2009) – The TWU basketball team cruised to a 20-point victory over Western New Mexico, 73-53, in the 2009 DFW Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere. Sophomore Casey Pool came off the bench and scored a game-high 18 points for the Pioneers.
 
TWU scored the first six points of the game before missing eight straight field goals. Trailing by a point at 12:54 mark in the first half, the Pioneers outscored Western New Mexico, 26-8, in the final 11 minutes of the first half to a take a 17-point lead into the locker room at the break.
 
Senior Megan Hashman and junior Kayla Weaver scored eight points each in the half and TWU held the Mustangs to just 25.9 percent shooting. The Pioneers also forced 17 turnovers in the first half.
 
TWU built a 33-point lead in the second half before settling for the 73-53 win. Pool scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half. All her points came from behind the arc as she finished with 6-for-10 from three-point range.
 
Hashman and Weaver finished with 12 points each while senior Jessica Durr led the team with seven rebounds. Senior Keshia Bolds came off the bench and handed out a game-high seven assists. Junior Taja Guerin also contributed with six points, five rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore Jeanee' Thompson added six points and six rebounds.
 
Pioneers tally another win in Florida
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2016) – Late free throws were the deciding factor in a 59-58 victory for Texas Woman's University over Embry Riddle during the final game of the Bahama House Classic Saturday afternoon inside the ICI Center.
 
Kenesha Saygo recorded a team-high 14 points and Kara Mitchell totaled 12 for the Pioneers (9-3, 2-2 Lone Star). TWU struggled from the outside, only hitting one of 11 tries from beyond the three-point line, but fared better defensively by acquiring 14 steals and forcing 21 ERAU turnovers.
 
The Pioneers led 56-48 with 4:24 left in the game before the Eagles (8-3, 5-2 Sunshine State) scored nine unanswered points to take a one-point lead with 1:47 remaining. Saygo converted one of two from the line for a 57-57 tie with 63 seconds to play. With eight seconds to go, Kara Mitchell was fouled on a shot attempt and hit both tries for a two-point advantage. ERAU had a chance to tie with two seconds to play missed the first of two free throws to seal the win for the Pioneers.
 
TWU fell behind 19-9 in the first quarter before Easley made a layup to push the Pioneers into double-digits in the scoring column. Trailing 24-15 in the second period, Saygo hit a layup while Mitchell and Emily Spector each knocked down a pair from the line to pull within 24-21 before the Eagles jumped ahead 34-24 and closed out the half up by eight.
 
A jumper by Easley at the 1:44 mark of the third quarter tied the contest at 44-44, and two Easley free throws handed TWU a two-point edge with 50 seconds remaining in the period. ERAU took the lead on a layup to begin the fourth quarter, but Mitchell put the Pioneers back in front on a score in the paint. Alexis Nezianya recorded a bucket, Saygo made two free throws and Spector tallied a jumper for a 55-48 TWU lead halfway through the quarter.