DENTON, Texas (Feb. 16, 2017) - Texas Woman's University built up a 14-point lead in the second half against Texas A&M-Commerce and were paced by a team-high 17 points and career-highs of 15 rebounds and six blocks from Alexis Nezianya, but the Pioneers were outscored 25-4 over the final eight minutes in an 80-70 defeat Thursday night inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
KJ Stastny came off of the bench to provide a career-high 14 points that included four three-pointers for the Pioneers. Each team spend a considerable amount of time at the free throw line with TWU knocking down 19-of-26 and TAMUC hitting 35-of-43, and the Lions grabbed 48 boards compared to 34 by the Pioneers.
 
TWU (15-10, 8-9 LSC) extended their lead to 55-41 at the 2:53 mark of the third quarter on a three-point play where Kenesha Saygo drilled a jumper while being fouled, but the Lions (19-7, 13-5 LSC) trimmed the deficit to 60-53 by the end of the third quarter.
 
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Kara Mitchell dropped in a bucket in the paint and Nezianya made a jumper to increase the margin to double-digits at 66-55, but an 11-1 Lion run spearheaded by a trio of three pointers cut the lead to 67-66 with 4:14 to play. The Pioneers missed their next 12 field goals while TAMUC made five of six to pull ahead 80-57 before Saygo made a three as time expired.
 
Emily Spector opened the contest with layup on the left side and a jumper on an inbounds pass for a 4-0 TWU advantage. A score in the lane by Nezianya upped the lead to 12-4, but TAMUC climbed back to within 12-11 with two minutes remaining in the period. Stastny knocked down two of her shots from deep to extend the lead to 18-13 heading into the second quarter.
 
Stastny gave the Pioneers their first double-digit lead at 25-15 on a three from the left baseline. A TAMUC jumper and three free throws cut the margin to 27-24 with 1:38 to play before the half. Saygo hit a shot from the right baseline with 25 seconds to go and succeeded on a try before the horn to give TWU a 32-25 lead at the break.
 
The Pioneers play their final game of the season inside Kitty Magee Arena Saturday against Tarleton State and will honor their five seniors: Kenesha Saygo, Emily Spector, Andrea Mapua, Deja Pointer and Ashley Bonugli.