BILLINGS, Mont. (Nov. 5, 2023) – For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the Texas Woman's basketball team starts off the season 3-0, after their Sunday night win against University of Mary.
 
TWU (3-0) closed the D2CCA Tipoff Classic, hosted by Montana State Billings, with a 73-69 win over the University of Mary (1-2). The Pioneers were one of two teams to go undefeated at the three-day tournament out of the 10 teams in attendance. Gannon University was the other team to go 3-0.
 
This year was the Pioneers first appearance in the D2CCA Tipoff Classic in program history.
 
Following the conclusion of the Classic, Ashley Ingram was named the D2CCA Tipoff Classic Most Valuable Player. Ingram averaged 22.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and only missing four shots across three games – as she went 25-29 from the field. Joining Ingram on the All-Tournament team was Jada Celsur. The Pioneers' starting point guard averaged 10.7 points per game, six rebounds per game and finished the weekend with 10 assists.
 
In the win over UMary, Ingram led the offensive charge for TWU scoring 19 points, grabbing six rebounds and adding two assists. Ingram also helped guide the Pioneers to shooting 14-16 from the charity stripe, as she went 100% from the free throw line on the night.
 
Leila Patel, who played the most minutes for TWU in the win, was named the Player of the Game. She scored 13 points, grabbed two steals and two rebounds and dished out one assist in 35 crucial minutes of action.
 
Joining Patel and Ingram in double digits was Ariyanna Hines who recorded a season high 11 points and five rebounds, including going a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line.
 
The Pioneers finished with 34 rebounds to UMary's 40 and were led on the boards by Celsur with seven.
 
On their way to the win, TWU once again owned the play in the paint, scoring 32 paint points. The Pioneers' bench also played a huge role in the win, scoring a season high 15 points.
 
Defense proved to once-again be a strong point for TWU, as they forced the Marauders into 16 turnovers – tying their team season high from yesterday against Minnesota State Mankato. The Pioneers scored 13 points off those 16 turnovers.
 
While the Pioneers grabbed 10 offensive rebounds for nine second chance points, the Marauders recorded 17 offensive rebounds for 17 second chance points. Nevertheless, TWU's lock down defense down the stretch held UMary to shooting just 36.5% from the field and 27.3% from the three point line.
 
In the opening quarter of action, the Pioneers fell behind by eight points early before regaining their explosive energy and mounting a 12-0 run to take the lead. The run was ignited by a spark off the bench from Caroline Glud Rasmussen with 6:18 on the clock, who secured an offensive rebound and completed the and-one opportunity off the put-back basket.
 
TWU's bench played a pivotal role in the first quarter run, as Ahrianna Morgan grabbed an offensive rebound and score the second chance layup to give the Pioneers their first lead of the night with four minutes left in the first quarter, 15-14.
 
After the Ahrianna Morgan bucket, Ingram contributed to the offensive flame knocking down her first three of the season to extend TWU's lead to four with three minutes left.
 
Gionna Carr would complete the Pioneers' first quarter comeback with two made free throws, as the Pioneers scored 22 points in the first quarter to head into the second quarter with a 22-19 advantage.
 
Patel continued the offensive run for TWU to start the second quarter, knocking down a three with just 17 seconds having ticked off the clock.
 
Halfway through the second quarter, Averee Kleinhans gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the night at 12, 35-23, on a scored layup after great defense on the other end of the floor.
 
The Marauders would get no closer than seven points before halftime, as TWU held them to just 13 points in the second quarter to head into the halftime break up by seven, 39-32.
 
TWU started the third quarter the same as the second quarter, as Hines connected on a triple to put the Pioneers back ahead by double-digits, 42-32. Nevertheless, UMary started to chip away slightly. With three minutes left in the third quarter, the Marauders went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to two, 54-52. TWU responded by scoring three straight, but then a quick three points by UMary brought the same situation again.
 
However, TWU would have the final word in the third quarter, as Celsur buried a three pointer to put the Pioneers up by five, 60-55, and shift the momentum back into the Pioneers' favor heading into the final quarter of action.
 
The fourth quarter was a defensive battle, as both teams scored less than 15 points.
 
After leading by as much as six in the quarter, UMary cut the Pioneers' lead to just two with 44 seconds left in the game. TWU would lock down the Maruaders for the final 40 seconds, as two clutch free throws by Ingram would seal the Pioneers' win with seven seconds on the clock.
 
TWU's defense would force UMary into a turnover on their last possession, as TWU would win the game 73-69.
 
The Pioneers will be back in action for their home opener on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena, as TWU hosts Western Colorado in the first day of the Conference Challenge.
 
Watch postgame interviews by Leila Patel here and Coach Beth Jillson here.