Box Score PORTALES, N.M. (Feb. 9, 2017) - Kenesha Saygo of Texas Woman's University's blistered Eastern New Mexico with a career-best 36 points the help the Pioneers erase a 19-point second half deficit to pull within one, but the Greyhounds hit nine straight free throws down to stretch to prevail over TWU, 84-81, Thursday night inside Greyhound Arena.
 
Saygo's performance ties for the highest individual scoring output in the Lone Star Conference this season. Kara Mitchell, Grace Mitchell and Alexis Nezianya each contributed nine points for the Pioneers. Nezianya also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Each team made 26 field goals and was within one three-point goal of one another, but the Pioneers misfired on 16 free throws (20-of-36) compared to a 28-of-34 showing from the league's first place team.
 
The Pioneers (14-9, 7-8 LSC) quickly changed the game midway through the third quarter with Saygo kicking off an 8-0 run to pull TWU to within 59-50 and close the period by outscoring the Greyhounds, 10-5, to make it a 66-60 game heading into the final quarter.
 
With 6:31 to go in the fourth, Saygo scored six straight Pioneer points to close the gap to 72-71 with five minutes to play. The Greyhounds made four free throws to stretch the lead to five until a Saygo layup and free throw made it 76-74. Two free throws by Kara Mitchell kept the two-point margin with 46 seconds on the clock, but the Pioneers missed two buckets in the paint that led to fouling ENMU where the Greyhounds hit 4-of-4 to jump ahead 82-76 with 23 seconds left. Saygo knocked down two from the line before ENMU neutralized with a pair of their own with nine seconds to go. Emily Spector hit a three at the buzzer for the final three-point margin.
 
To open the game, ENMU (18-5, 14-2 LSC) pounced early with a 12-0 run within the first three minutes. A jumper by Kara Mitchell at the 5:31 mark put the Pioneers on the board, and a Deja Pointer free throw and the end of the quarter posted a 22-13 score in favor of the Greyhounds. ENMU twice jumped ahead by 19, with the latest surge coming on a Greyhound three-pointer with 30 seconds to go before the half.
 
The Pioneers head to Western New Mexico Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip.