STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Feb. 17, 2018) - Ma'K'La Woods scored a career-high 22 points as Texas Woman's University erased a third quarter 17-point deficit to earn a 77-69 overtime win over Tarleton State Saturday afternoon inside Wisdom Gym and secure a berth in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
 
Whitney Apari and Desiree Phipps joined Woods in double figures with 15 and 14, respectively, and Morgan Easley dished out a game-high six assists. The Pioneers (10-14, 7-11 LSC) compiled 20 assists on their 26 field goals and outrebounded the TexAnns (17-9, 11-7 LSC) 35-to-28.
 
TWU trailed TSU, 52-51, with just over two minutes go in regulation when Desiree Phipps banked in a three-pointer for a two-point Pioneer advantage. Easley took a charge at the other end to give TWU the ball back, and Apari made the most of it with a three-pointer from the right baseline to up the lead to 57-52. The TexAnns answered with a three before Cienna Rodriguez hit two free throws to put the Pioneers up 59-55 with 13 seconds on the clock. The TexAnns converted a layup and then fouled to put TWU at the line, but neither attempt dropped. TSU drove the length of the floor and made a layup in the final seconds to force overtime.
 
Woods scored to open the extra period and produced a three-point play as Apari added a score in the paint to give the Pioneers a 66-61 edge with 3:21 to play. Another layup by Woods pushed the margin to 72-63 with 1:08 remaining, and the Pioneers sank five-of-six from the line to finalize the win.
 
The first quarter stayed close throughout with Phipps draining a three in the 10^th minute for a 13-10 Pioneer edge. The TexAnns took the lead at 17-15 on a layup before Apari closed TWU to within 18-17 on two free throws at the 6:04 mark. The Pioneers went ice cold from the floor for the last six minutes of the half unable to score a point as TWU jumped ahead, 32-17.
 
TSU held a 17-point lead midway through the third as the Pioneers were able to find their offense beginning with back-to-back buckets from Alexis Nezianya. Woods and Kameron Daily each put up a score in the paint, Neziayna tallied an and-one to close the gap to 40-34, and Rodriguez drilled a three with 22 seconds left to pull the Pioneers to within 42-37 heading into the fourth.
 
Head Coach Beth Jillson said, "I'm so proud of our team. We responded to adversity and showed grit and toughness to win in overtime. Ma'K'La did a great job finishing around the rim. Des's ability to knock down shots helped up space the floor against the zone. Whitney played a competitive game and was very efficient in scoring. Our ability to capitalize on their turnovers was a big key in the second half."
The Pioneers head back to Kitty Magee Arena next week for their final home stand of the season with contests versus Cameron Thursday at 7 p.m. and Midwestern State Saturday at 7 p.m.