SILVER CITY, N.M. (Dec. 19, 2022) – Ahead of the holiday season, the Texas Woman's basketball team gave a lot of heart and a lot of fight to unwrap a win tonight against Western New Mexico.
 
TWU (9-1, 4-0) maintained their composure down the stretch in a close game with WNMU (2-7, 0-4) and toughed out the win in Silver City, 56-53.
 
With seven active players available against the Mustangs, the Pioneers called for every player to step up and into their role. The call was answered throughout the course of the 40 minutes of action.
 
The game flowed back-and-forth for most of the night, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The score was tied four times, and the lead changed eight times. Nevertheless, through all the ups-and-downs, the Pioneers stayed grounded.
 
Out of the gate to start the game, TWU started off strong with an 11-2 run. With 4:51 on the clock, the Pioneers pushed to their largest lead of the game at 10 after a layup by Jada Celsur.
 
However, TWU's lead was cut to zero by the end of the quarter, as the Pioneers would only score one more basket in the remaining four minutes play.
 
Although the score was tied 15-15, the Pioneers worked to stay connected and find fresh looks on offense. Brielle Woods kicked TWU off in the second quarter with a layup to tie the game again at 17 each.
 
After Woods' basket, the Mustangs stifled the Pioneers' offense. While they were struggling to score, TWU did not stop locking down on the defensive end. They held WNMU to just seven points over six minutes of action.
 
Sadie Moyer broke the Pioneers' drought and ignited TWU's offense late in the second quarter. Because they stayed strong on defense, they were able to confidently attack on the offensive end.
 
At 2:22 in the second quarter, Jordan Jackson grabbed an offensive rebound and sealed the put-back basket to cut the deficit to four points. She answered again by doing a solid post move in the paint to bring the Pioneers within two points.
 
After a quick WNMU basket to put TWU down by four again, Moyer locked in on defense. She blocked a Mustangs' three-point attempt, grabbed the ball and took it coast-to-coast for two points to lead the Pioneers into halftime, 27-25.
 
In the third quarter, the Pioneers continued to display their heart on defense, which aided in the win, while experiencing some offensive struggles.
 
For the sixth time this team, TWU held their opponent to less than 10 points in a quarter, holding the Mustangs to just eight points in the third.
 
The fourth and final quarter of action saw the most points of the night from either team with TWU scoring 19 points to WNMU's 18 points.
 
In the first minute of the fourth, the lead changed five times, as Jackson scored a layup and a three pointer in the sequence that ended with the Pioneers trailing by one.
 
The Mustangs' lead did not last for long with Jackson on the floor. She scored a free throw and another basket to give the Pioneers the two-point lead.
 
 While WNMU was quiet on offense, Moyer responded to Jackson's energy scoring a free throw and layup to put TWU up by five.
 
The Pioneers led by as much as six in the quarter before the Mustangs cut it to one with 26 seconds left on the clock.
 
With no timeouts remaining, the Mustangs had to foul to extend time. Clutch time free throws by Celsur and Scout Huffman sealed the win for TWU, as the pair went 4-4 from the line to win the game, 56-53.
 
All seven active players made a positive impact in tonight's contest.
 
Jackson led all scorers with a career high 16 points and six rebounds. Moyer added 13 points and a season high six rebounds in the win.
 
Celsur shined on the defensive end, grabbing two steals and a career high two blocks. On the boards, Huffman continued her streak of double-digit rebounds, grabbing 10 tonight.
 
Brielle Woods led the way for the Pioneers on defense, excelling with three steals.
 
Ariyanna Hines added three momentum shifting assists and five points, and Grace Lowery grabbed one rebound in her valuable minutes off the bench.
 
"No matter what happens, this team steps up," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "With just seven players available tonight, every player impacted the game. I could not be prouder of the heart they displayed tonight. Everyone, from the bench to those on the floor, was locked in. We found ways tonight, which is a lesson we will take with us into the next part of our season."
 
The Pioneers will close out 2022 on the road Dec. 30 at University of Arkansas Fort Smith at 4 p.m.