KINGSVILLE, Texas (Jan. 12, 2023) – High energy and high efficiency drove the Texas Woman's basketball team to their 14th win of the season on Thursday night at Texas A&M – Kingsville.
 
TWU (14-1, 9-0) took the crown home in Kingsville, defeating TAMUK (7-8, 4-5) 79-50 for their 12th win in a row this season, breaking their former program record of 11 consecutive wins. 
 
After being at home last week for two games, traveling proved to be no detriment to the Pioneers winning streak. Furthermore, TWU has played great on the road this season, going 6-0 in arenas not named Kitty Magee.
 
Tonight, in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center, the Pioneers rode a 48-point second half to a dominating 29-point victory over the Javelinas. In the third and fourth quarter, TWU scored 24 points, marking their fourth game with multiple 20-plus quarters this season.
 
The Pioneers clicked on both ends of the floor tonight. On offense, TWU shot 51.6% from the field as a team, narrowly missing their season-high of 53.2%. On defense, the Pioneers limited the threats from TAMUK and held them to just 34.5% from the field. For the seventh time this season, TWU's defense held their opponent to less than 10 points in a quarter, as TAMUK scored just nine in the third quarter.
 
With dominant forces on offense, TWU combined for 40 points in the paint. As a team, the Pioneers also showcased their plethora of diversified scoring threats, proving everyone on the lineup can contribute. Tonight, TWU's bench scored a season-high 36 points in the win, breaking their former season-high of 33 bench points against Cameron on Dec. 3, 2022.
 
In the first two quarters of action, the game remained close. The lead changed five times in the first quarter, but Sadie Moyer gave the Pioneers a one-point lead heading into the second quarter off a layup in the paint.
 
The second quarter saw the lead go back-and-forth as well, but it was Moyer who again had the final word to close the half. After great defense by Moyer, which set up a steal for Brielle Woods, the Pioneers slowed the ball down for the last shot of the half. Great movement opened up Moyer at the three point line. After a good find by Ashley Ingram, Moyer knocked down her second three of the game to send the Pioneers into halftime with a three-point lead, 31-28.
 
Third quarters have proven to be a difference-making 10 minutes for the Pioneers in the last few games this season.
 
In the third quarter, the Pioneers mounted a 13-2 run over four minutes of action to take control of the game.
 
Ingram led the charge for TWU during the run, connecting on three and-one opportunities in a two-minute span. After collecting three points the old-fashioned way, Ingram decided to end the quarter by scoring three points outright in the more traditional way. She beat the buzzer and connected on her first shot from downtown this season to finish the third with 12 points.  
 
Behind an explosive third quarter, Ingram ended the game with 20 points in 21 minutes on 7-11 from the field. She also went 5-5 from the free throw line to record her fifth game shooting 100% from the charity stripe.
 
The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter. Scout Huffman opened the final 10 minutes with a hustle play, showcasing the energy the Pioneers had all night. Huffman knocked down a baseline jumper on offense and then sprinted down the court to block the Javelinas on defense.  
 
Leila Patel who returned from injury tonight for TWU connected on layup and a three to finish the game with a season-high five points in the fourth quarter, proving to be a strong spark off the bench.
 
Ngozi Obineke also performed well in the final quarter for the Pioneers, scoring seven points. She closed the game for the Pioneers with an incredible hustle play to put the exclamation point on the game. With 53 seconds on the clock, Obineke stole the ball, scored a layup, and then got a block on defense. Obineke's hustle held the Javelinas from scoring in the final minute, leading the Pioneers to a 79-50 win.
 
Ingram led the offensive charge for the Pioneers with 20 points. Moyer finished the game with 14 points and three assists. Jordan Jackson gave the Pioneers energy on offense off the bench, scoring 12 points on 6-8 from the field and grabbing six rebounds.
 
On the boards, Ingram narrowly missed a double-double, finishing the game with seven rebounds. Obineke, a force on the glass, led the Pioneers with eight rebounds in the game and added 11 points.
 
Ariyanna Hines, in her seventh straight start for the Pioneers, made a difference on the defensive end, grabbing a season-high three steals and six rebounds.
 
In her return, Keslyn King added six points in nine minutes, and Huffman also finished with six points.
 
"I am so impressed with our entire team," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "From our starters setting the tone to our bench never missing a beat, we played together tonight for the entire 40 minutes. I am proud of how we responded in the third quarter to change the flow of the game and our defensive effort really gave us the energy to connect on offense tonight on the road."
 
The Pioneers will travel to Texas A&M International University on Saturday, Jan. 14 for a 1 p.m. tip-off with the Dustdevils.