DENTON, Texas (Nov. 16, 2022) – In a tightly contested game where the score was tied 12 times, the Texas Woman's basketball team fell just short of rallying in overtime and lost to Harding 74-70.
 
TWU (2-1) played their first game of the 2022-23 season in Kitty Magee Arena on Wednesday night against Harding (1-3). While the Pioneers led in the first half, the Lady Bisons closed the second half on a run and eventually claimed the win in overtime.
 
The Pioneers came out of the gate strong in the first quarter, taking an early 7-2 lead off a free throw made by Ashley Ingram. The Lady Bisons quickly closed the gap and tied the game with two minutes left in the first quarter.
 
Nevertheless, the final two minutes of the starting quarter were all Pioneers. TWU went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter with the lead, 18-12.
 
The scoring continued to be back-and-forth in the second quarter. The Lady Bisons cut the lead to two points at the eight minute mark, but the Pioneers responded well by pushing the lead back up to seven with a diversified offensive attack, including a three pointer by Brielle Woods, a jumper by Ingram and a two pointer by Ngozi Obineke.
 
Following the offensive push, the Pioneers went on a late second half scoring drought. Then, four Lady Bisons' free throws to close the second quarter sent TWU into the locker room with a three point lead.
 
After the halftime break, the Pioneers remained consistent by having a back-to-back 14-point quarter in the third (also scoring 14 in the second). Although, they were outscored by the Lady Bisons in the third quarter by four points.
 
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Harding took the lead for the first time in the game off a made three pointer. TWU answered by tying the score with an explosive and-one by Ingram.
 
The Lady Bisons regained the lead on another made three pointer, Ingram cut it to one point with two made free throws.
 
Down 47-44 with six seconds on the clock, Scout Huffman made a move in the paint and scored to send the Pioneers into the final quarter of regulation down one.
 
The beginning of the fourth quarter saw four ties, before Harding started to pull away. They led by as much as six in the quarter. Forcing the Lady Bisons to foul, the Pioneers utilized the advantage of being in the bonus and shot five free throws in the last two minutes of the quarter.
 
After cutting their deficit to two points and grabbing a turnover, the Pioneers had the ball with seven seconds left on the clock. Ingram received the out of bounds pass from Keslyn King at the top of the key. Ingram then drove to the hoop and scored the game tying basket to force overtime.
 
Exactly like the rest of the game, the overtime period was back-and-forth. With the Pioneers playing solid defense down the stretch and finding good shots. A layup by Obineke put the Pioneers in the lead with two minutes left in the period. After a foul by Ingram with 43 seconds left, the Pioneers worked to extend the clock through free throws; however, the Bison made just enough free throws to take the lead to four with just three seconds left on the clock, and TWU was unable to answer. 
 
Ingram led the Pioneers with her first 20-point performance of the season, finishing with 23 points and four boards. Sadie Moyer added 17 and Obineke rounded out the double-digit scoring for TWU with 13.
 
Turnovers seemed to be a deciding factor in the game, as the Pioneers gave up 25 for 23 Bisons' points.
 
Defensively, the Pioneers grabbed 23 defensive rebounds, recorded five steals and two blocks. Moyer recorded the most steals for TWU with three. Ingram and Moyer both contributed one block to the stat sheet.

 
TWU will go on the road for their next pair of games. They will play in the Ashbrook Classic at Midwestern State University on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19. The Pioneers will face East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma State.