DENTON, Texas (Jan. 11, 2018) - Ma'K'La Woods of Texas Woman's University tallied a career-high 13 points while Bri'anna Gray grabbed a career and game-high 14 rebounds as the Pioneers built a 10-point lead over Tarleton State in the first half, but TWU was upended by the TexAnns in a 71-67 loss Thursday afternoon inside Kitty Magee Arena.
 
Four Pioneers notched double-figures, led by the team-high from Woods and 12 points apiece from KJ Stastny, Alexis Nezianya and Whitney Apari. TWU (6-7, 3-4 LSC) outrebounded TSU (10-6, 4-4 LSC) 46-to-33 and outscored the visitors in the paint by 20 but committed 19 turnovers compared to 11 by the TexAnns.
 
With 3:18 remaining in the game, Cienna Rodriguez made from the right wing to cut Tarleton's lead to 60-55, and Apari secured a steal in the backcourt under TWU's hoop to convert a layup to make it 60-57. The TexAnns drained a deep three with just under three minutes to play, but Stastny countered with one of her own to keep the Pioneers within three points. Another three by Stastny from the left wing made it a two-point game at 67-65 with 57 seconds left to play. Tarleton converted three free throws down the stretch to go up 70-65 before Woods grabbed an offensive rebound for a putback with two ticks remaining. TSU then made a free throw that proved to be the final point of the contest.
 
Nezianya tied the contest at 6-all early on and sparked a seven-point TWU run following a three-pointer by Rodriguez from the left baseline. Tarleton responded with a jumper from LSC Preseason Player of the Year, Mackenzie Hailey, but Woods hit a three to push the TWU lead to 16-8. With 10 seconds remaining in the period, Morgan Easley stopped and nailed a shot from 25-feet out at the buzzer for a 19-11 Pioneer advantage.
 
Two free throws by Gray gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the afternoon at 21-11 at the 8:48 mark before the TexAnns trimmed the margin to 25-21 on back-to-back field goals. Three straight buckets by Woods put TWU ahead, 31-24, before TSU closed to within 32-28 with 29 seconds until halftime. Stastny drove through the lane in the final seconds for a layup to hand the Pioneers a 34-28 edge heading into the locker room.
 
Woods pushed TWU's lead to 44-35 in the third quarter on a score in the paint at the three-minute mark. The TexAnns put up seven points during the final minutes of the period, and Apari connected on a jumper from the short corner for a 46-42 Pioneer lead to complete the scoring in the quarter.
 
Head Coach Beth Jillson said, "It was a great collective effort from our team. We had a balanced scoring attack and did an excellent job on the boards. We played well for three quarters but struggled defensively down the stretch. We are ready to come out Saturday and put four quarters together."
 
The Pioneers return to Kitty Magee Arena Saturday for a 2 p.m. game against Texas A&M-Commerce.