EMPORIA, Kan. (Nov. 25, 2017) - Alexis Nezianya scored 21 points and Bri'anna Gray posted 19 for Texas Womans' University in career-high performances, but the Pioneers fell 88-81 at No. 22 Emporia State Saturday afternoon inside White Auditorium.
 
TWU (3-2, 0-0 LSC) erased a 14-point third quarter deficit to tie game at 80-all on a layup by Alexis Nezianya with 1:22 remaining in the fourth period, but ESU (3-2, 0-0 MIAA) then hit eight straight free throws to build the 88-81 advantage for the non-conference victory.
 
Grace Mitchell and Kara Mitchell joined Nezianya and Gray in double-figures with 17 and 16 points, respectively. KJ Stastny and Cienna Rodriguez each handed out six assists for TWU. The Pioneers had difficulty containing Tyra Jones of ESU who scored a game-high 34 points on a 9-of-10 showing from the field and a 16-of-22 performance from the free throw line while adding 11 rebounds.
 
The Pioneers fell behind 7-2 early on before tying the game at 13 on a layup by Gray. Six straight Lady Hornet points put the home team up, 21-15, to close the first quarter.
 
A three-pointer by ESU midway through the second period handed the Lady Hornets a 35-26 advantage, but a Gray three and layup by Grace Mitchell cut the margin to 35-31 one minute later. ESU again built a nine-point lead with less than two minutes to play in the first half, but TWU closed with a 7-2 run to pull within 44-40 at the break.
 
The Lady Hornets began the third quarter with a layup eight seconds in and stretched the lead to double-digits at 50-40. A three-point play by ESU gave the Lady Hornets a 56-42 advantage before two free throws and a bucket by Nezianya along with a layup by Kara Mitchell lessened the deficit to 56-48 with 5:34 left in the quarter. The Lady Hornets scored the final field goal of the period with 41 seconds remaining for a 69-58 lead.
 
The Pioneers return home to host their first Lone Star Conference game of the season in a contest against Angelo State Thursday at 7 p.m.