CANYON, Texas (Dec. 7, 2017) - Cienna Rodriguez scored a season-high 11 points for Texas Woman's University and Whitney Apari added 13 as the Pioneers played No. 4 West Texas A&M close throughout the first half, but the Lady Buffs forced 16 TWU turnovers in the final two quarters in an 81-61 Pioneer loss Thursday night inside First United Bank Center.
 
TWU (4-4, 1-2 LSC) shot a respectable 46-percent from the field but were slightly outdone by WT's 52-percent performance. The Lady Buffs (9-0, 4-0 LSC) outrebounded the Pioneers 35-to-27 and collected 16 steals against the Pioneers, the most given up by TWU this season, and forced season-high 27 Pioneer turnovers.
 
Bri'anna Gray notched the first field goal of the game for the Pioneers on a reverse layup, and a jumper from the right elbow by Grace Mitchell kept TWU within a point at 8-7. Desiree Phipps drained a three from the right wing after checking in, and a three-pointer from the left baseline by Rodriguez tied the score at 13-13 with just over two minutes to play in the opening period. The Lady Buffs ended the quarter on a 9-2 run for a 22-15 advantage.
 
In the second quarter, Kameron Daily sank a jumper to break a double-digit WT lead to bring the Pioneers to within 30-21 midway through the period. A short corner floater by Gray made it 33-25, and another three by Rodriguez from the left baseline on a kickout from KJ Stastny closed the margin to 35-26. The Lady Buffs hit a layup as time expired for a 37-29 WT lead at the half.
 
The Pioneers were held without a field goal for over four minutes to start the second half as WT opened a 50-33 lead. Apari made two buckets in the paint and Ma'K'La Woods added another to trim to deficit to 50-39 at the 3:38 mark. TWU was unable to convert another basket in the quarter and trailed 59-41 heading into the fourth.
 
The offense improved for the Pioneers in the fourth as the team totaled 20 points throughout the 10 minutes, including six straight free throws, with four coming from Apari and two from Rodriguez.
 
Head Coach Beth Jillson said, "We came out flat in the second half and our effort and intensity did not match theirs. We have a quick turnaround and need to learn from it and respond against a good UTPB team."
 
The Pioneers head to UT Permian Basin Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.