SEARCY, Ark. (Dec. 19, 2023) – A late-game free throw gave the Pioneers its second loss as the Texas Woman's basketball team fell in a non-conference contest, 72-71.

TWU (10-2) was defeated by HU (9-1) as the Bisons continued their home win streak. The game marked the Pioneers' last non-conference matchup before getting back into conference play on Saturday, Dec. 30, against UT Tyler.

Three Pioneer players reached double figures in scoring, with Ashley Ingram leading the way with a career-high 32 points. Ingram finished 12-20 from the field and shot an efficient 2-3 from beyond the arc, with one tying the game at 71 towards the end of regulation. She also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out three assists.

Jada Celsur finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, as Scout Huffman contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals, respectively.

Despite the loss, both teams were neck and neck on the stat sheet in a hard-fought 40-minute battle. TWU dominated the paint with 44 points inside and had a 35-31 rebounding edge over Harding.

A slight advantage from three point range, 21 bench points, and late-game free throws allowed the Bisons to overcome the Pioneer second-half surge.

Starting the game, TWU looked to attack the paint early and get Ingram going inside with a few paint touches. After free throws by Celsur to tie the game at four, HU then went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-4 lead.

The Pioneers settled in and chipped at the lead, but the Bisons kept their foot on the gas pedal to make it a 23-16 game heading into the second quarter.

Harding carried over its momentum into the second as the two teams started to pick up the pace a little. Ariyanna Hines got things going for herself as she cut the deficit to five, 23-18.

Both squads looked to get out on the break and convert off mistakes as it became a nonstop, back-and-forth quarter. Ingram and Josie Williams for the Bisons became the go-to scorers down the stretch for each team as they went on mini runs of their own. Williams finished with 26 points for Harding.

A jumper by Leila Patel and free throws from Huffman brought the game to 38-34, with under a minute left in the half before the Bisons added onto its lead to close the second quarter with a 40-34 lead.

After a slow start out of halftime from both squads, Coach Beth Jillson and the Pioneers were on a mission on the defensive end to start the half. TWU began to capitalize on more offensive opportunities and climbed back to tie the game at 42 before taking a 44-42 lead right after.

A quick 5-0 run capped off by a Celsur steal leading to a three-point play gave the Pioneers its biggest lead, 49-44 with 3:15 remaining. HU then responded with a run of their own and outscored TWU 8-2 to close the third with a 52-51 edge.

It all came down to the wire in the fourth quarter with multiple lead changes and ties down the stretch. In this matchup, there were nine ties and eight lead changes total.

TWU found themselves down 70-66 late in the fourth under 30 seconds but did not give up that easily. An Ingram strong finish in the paint and a missed free throw by HU gave the Pioneers hope down three points, 71-68. A drive and kick from Averee Kleinhans to an Ingram corner three tied the game at 71 under 10 seconds remaining in regulation.

A drive to the basket by the Harding player drew enough contact to score the go-ahead game sealing free throw in the 72-71 victory for the Bisons.

The Pioneers are back in KMA on Saturday, Dec. 30, as they take on LSC matchup, UT Tyler, at 2 p.m.
 

-Pioneers-