DENTON, Texas (Nov. 16, 2023) - The Pioneers start the season off 6-0 for the first time in history as they protect home court for the third straight game.

TWU (6-0) keeps their unbeaten streak against regional opponent Colorado School of Mines (2-1) after a 72-66 hard-fought win over the Mines on Thursday night in KMA.

The Pioneers dominated inside the paint with its scoring and had a slight rebounding edge over the Mines. TWU scored 38 points inside the paint area and a 38-31 rebound advantage. Trips to the foul line (18-25) and converting on second chances and fast breaks allowed the Pioneers to gain the upper edge down the stretch. A second-half spark and a late surge from beyond the arc led to a solid home win.

TWU finished with a season high six blocks and seven steals as they held the Mines to just 11 points in the third quarter alone.

Four Pioneer players hit double digits in scoring as Ashley Ingram led all scorers with 18 points, eight rebounds, and a season high three blocks. Ingram shot an efficient 6-8 from the field after starting the game 4-4 in the first quarter. Jada Celsur finished with 14 points and five assists as Leila Patel contributed 12 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Scout Huffman also grabbed five boards with 10 points, respectively.

Averee Kleinhans recorded a TWU career high 10 rebounds and was just two points shy of a double-double. Kleinhans also led the Pioneers in three pointers with two total.

Patel got on the board for the Pioneers on their first possession with a strong finish in the paint. The Mines immediately responded with a three to seize the Pioneer crowd and take the momentum in the first quarter. Colorado School of Mines was the aggressor to start, retaining their lead throughout the opening quarter of play.

Coach Beth Jillson and her team saw themselves trailing by as much as eight points, 22-14, before going on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 22 to end the quarter.

TWU felt themselves taking control of the battle heading into the second, but the Mines held their ground and kept responding. A back-and-forth second quarter between these two squads consisted of five lead changes and three ties. A late bucket by Kleinhans from Celsur tied the game at 35 going into halftime.

What looked like it might be more of the same out of halftime as it was in the first half turned into a show for Pioneer fans. The two teams exchanged blows within the first five minutes of play as TWU took a 43-39 lead with 6:39 remaining in the third. From that point, the Pioneers outscored CSM 12-4 after a quick 7-0 run to take a 55-43 lead before a late three pointer by the Mines to end the quarter, 55-46. 

KMA was electrified with energy heading into the fourth quarter as the crowd could sense another home victory. TWU led by just six points at the 7:15 mark before a four minute scoring drought between the two teams.

Colorado School of Mines ended the drought with a three to make it a three-point game, 57-54. A couple of successful trips to the line and back-to-back threes from Patel and Celsur, capped off a 10-0 run to give TWU its biggest lead of the game 67-54, with 1:19 remaining.

The Pioneers did not take many threes but they knocked them down when it mattered, along with a series of free throws to secure the 72-66 win.

This win marked the second victory against the Mines in history, as the Pioneers previously defeated CSM in their only other matchup in 2000.

TWU will hit the road for next Saturday's game on Nov. 25 as the Pioneers take on Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark, at 2 p.m.

Hear from Head Coach Beth Jillson after the win: 
https://youtu.be/SP_AHQkrW4k
 

-Pioneers-