SAN ANGELO, Texas (Jan. 27, 2018) - Whitney Apari recorded a career-high 21 points, including 17 in the second half, for Texas Woman's University, but a late second quarter run by Angelo State doomed the Pioneers in a 73-64 loss Saturday inside Stephens Arena.
 
Alexis Nezianya joined Apari in double digits with 11 points, and Ajine Taylor scored a career-best eight. The Pioneers (7-11, 4-8 LSC) were outrebounded 44-to-28 while the Belles (14-1, 9-3 LSC) collected 18 second chance points and 16 off of turnovers compared to six and two, respectively, for TWU.
 
Jumpers by Nezianya and Apari handed TWU an early 4-3 advantage before an ASU scored five straight. Nezianya converted a fastbreak layup and Apari nailed a shot with a defender in her face for an 8-8 tie. The Belles took a 15-11 lead, but Morgan Easley buried a three from the left baseline to pull the Pioneers within one.
 
Desiree Phipps opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, and KJ Stastny hit one of her own for a 20-19 Pioneer lead. Ma'K'La Woods connected on a jumper from the free throw line to keep TWU up one at the 7:15 mark, and Statsny then added two points for a 24-21 lead. Three turnovers by the Pioneers helped the Belles regain the lead at 27-24, but Ajine Taylor drained a three from the right wing for a 27-27 tie. Taylor made a jumper with 2:45 remaining in the half, but TWU was unable to score the remainder of the period as ASU put up eight points to take a 37-29 lead.
 
Apari scored on a lob from the baseline and Nezianya put one in from the paint to cut the deficit to 39-33 two minutes into the third quarter before the Belles went on a 17-4 run to put TWU in a 56-37 hole with 1:42 on the clock. Free throws by Easley along with two buckets from Apari pulled the Pioneers to within 56-44 heading into the final quarter.
 
A spin move by Apari in the lane on the first possession of the final quarter made it a 10-point game. ASU pulled ahead 62-48 before Cienna Rodriguez hit a three from the right wing to bring it down to an 11-point margin with 6:36 to play. The Belles were able to grow the lead to 71-53 three minutes later before nine straight TWU points cut the deficit in half to 71-62, but ASU hung on for the win.
 
Head Coach Beth Jillson said, "The run late in the second quarter was a game-changer and really hurt us. I was proud of the way Ajine and Des stepped up to lead our bench as we were able outscore Angelo's reserves and how Whitney responded in the second half."
 
 
The Pioneers return home next week to host UT Permian Basin Thursday at 7 p.m. and West Texas A&M Saturday at 2 p.m.