DENTON, Texas (Dec. 2, 2017) - Grace Mitchell nailed a jumper in the lane on a shovel pass from Whitney Apari with six seconds remaining to give Texas Woman's University a 50-48 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville for the first Lone Star Conference win of the season for the Pioneers Saturday afternoon inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
This is Mitchell's second game-winner versus the Javelinas as she secured a TWU victory during their last matchup during the 2016-17 season. Apari posted career-highs with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Alexis Nezianya tallied her fourth double-double on the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
A three-point play by TAMUK with 3:17 left to play tied the contest at 47-47 before Apari put TWU up, 48-47, on a free throw with just under three minutes to play. KJ Stastny secured a steal on the other end of the floor, but the Pioneers were unable to convert offensively. The Javelinas were fouled and sank one free throw for a 48-48 tie with 52 seconds left. Stastny again stole the ball, and head coach Beth Jillson called a timeout with 30 seconds left to play.
 
The Pioneers ran the clock down until Apari found an open Mitchell in the center of the lane for a 50-48 lead and six seconds remaining. The Javelinas used a timeout to advance the ball to halfcourt, but their play broke when the ball rolled off of the heel of the Javelina point guard and TAMUK was whistled for an over-and-back to secure the TWU victory.
 
It took a bit for the Pioneer offense to get started early on as it took nearly three minutes before Statsny hit a free throw for the first TWU point. With 1:44 to go before the quarter break, Apari made one from the line and made a fastbreak layup while Desiree Phipps nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 16-13 lead.
 
The Pioneers stretched their lead to 30-19 on a step-back three from the left wing by Cienna Rodriguez midway through the third quarter. Nezianya made a shot in the lane to keep the Pioneers ahead, 32-23, before TAMUK closed within five heading into the fourth.
 
Jillson said, "Our defensive effort and intensity was a big key for us today. Our seniors led the way, especially Whitney who came in and gave us a huge spark off of the bench. Proud of the collective effort and execution down the stretch to get an important LSC win."
 
The Pioneers travel to No. 5 West Texas A&M Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.