CANYON, Texas (March 11, 2022) – The Texas Woman's University basketball team made history once again this season and created a moment that will ignite their fight moving forward.
 
For the first time in program history, the Pioneers are headed to the South Central Regional Semifinals after defeating Metropolitan State University – Denver 90-83 in overtime Friday night.  
 
TWU (20-8) traveled to the South Central Regional Tournament for the third time in program history this week, after punching their ticket as the No. 4 seed. They say third times a charm, which proved to be true tonight for the Pioneers.
 
After losing in the quarterfinal round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, the Pioneers came to Canyon hungry and ready to prove their strength in big moments. Their first opponent tonight was not an unfamiliar opponent for the Pioneers – MSU – Denver (22-9).
 
The Pioneers and Roadrunners met on Nov. 13, 2021, and TWU won 86-83 in triple overtime. A game which felt like years ago, featured two teams who have grown throughout the season. Although the growth of each team was apparent tonight, one thing between the two teams did not change – going into overtime.
 
With their season on the line, the Roadrunners forced overtime with 22 seconds left on the clock off a three by Tosjanae Bonds. Nevertheless, the Pioneers scored 17 points in overtime, led by six points from Scout Huffman, to punch their ticket to the Regional Semifinal.
 
Although the last minutes of the game were nail-biting, the Pioneers set the tone from the jump ball and put themselves in a positive position to win the game.
 
Scoring, which plagued the Pioneers last week, was not a problem for TWU tonight. They scored 23 points in the first quarter, trading baskets with the Roadrunners. With one minute left in the first quarter, Ariyanna Hines hit a three, followed by a successful and-one play from Sadie Moyer, and TWU closed the quarter on a 6-2 run.
 
Then, Brielle Woods kicks the scoring into higher gear and opens the second quarter with a three. After a pair of made free throws by Ashley Ingram, the Pioneers hit a slight scoring lull for the next two minutes, which was broken by an Ingram jumper. MSU – Denver continued to try and chip away, but TWU kept striking back in a dominant fashion.
 
The Pioneers pushed on the final possession, showing their passion even with the lead. With four seconds on the clock, Kayla Glover drove the ball the entire length of the court, got to the free-throw line and hit a jumper at the buzzer to give TWU an eight-point lead heading into halftime.
 
The Roadrunners cut the Pioneers lead to just one point with six minutes on the clock in the third quarter. Nevertheless, big moments call for big players, and TWU stepped up in those big moments.
 
After a timeout and only up by one, Moyer steps up and hits a massive 3-pointer.
After the Moyer three, the teams traded baskets until a pair of assists and a 6-0 run put the Pioneers up by five with 1:57. In the run, Moyer hit two free-throws, Huffman hit a jumper off an assist by Moyer and then Huffman hit a lay-up off an assist from Ma'K'La Woods.
 
Moyer, who finished the night with 26 points, hit a jumper with five-tenths of second on the clock to give the Pioneers a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter of action.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Roadrunners resurfaced with a big push. Bonds cut the Pioneers lead to one with five minutes left on the clock. In response, on the other end, Ngozi Obineke secured an offensive rebound and scored the put back for a huge play.
 
With two minutes left in the fourth, MSU – Denver took their first lead since the first quarter off a made 3-pointer by Kendra Parra. Moyer scored five points for the Pioneers to give them the 3-point edge before Bonds tied it to send the game into overtime.
 
For just the third time the season, the Pioneers went into overtime. With the win tonight, TWU is 3-0 in overtime games for the 2022 season.
 
After being outscored in the third and fourth quarter, the Pioneers scored 17 points in overtime to the Roadrunners 10 points to win the game. Moyer iced the game with two made free-throws with 15 seconds on the clock. The 90 points scored by TWU marks the most points they have scored in a single game this season. 
 
Moyer went 12-12, 100% from the free throw line for the 11th time this season, 12 marks the most makes and most attempts from the free-throw line by Moyer this season.
 
Ingram finished the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season. She also tied her season high with two blocks.
 
With six points in the overtime period, Huffman recorded 15 points and grabbed four rebounds.
 
In total team effort, every Pioneer who touched the court scored and made an impact. Keslyn King, who made gritty plays down the stretch, finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Brielle Woods, who lead the Pioneers patient attack from the point guard position, scored seven points, Hines recorded five points, Glover added three and Obineke finished with two.
 
Graduate Student Ma'K'La Woods, in a final campaign with the Pioneers, played like she did not want to see her season end and it will not. Ma'K'La Woods finished with four points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
The Pioneers are back in action tomorrow night. They will play the No. 1 seed in the South Central Regional Tournament West Texas A&M University, who is ranked No. 23 in the nation after winning the LSC tournament. TWU defeated WT earlier in the season on Jan. 29 in Denton, Texas, 61-50.
 
The Pioneers will tip-off against the Lady Buffs at 7:30 p.m. at First Bank United Center in Canyon, TX.
 
TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson, Scout Huffman and Ma'K'La Woods discuss the Pioneers win here.