DENTON, Texas (Dec. 9, 2023) – The Texas Woman's basketball team was walking in a winning wonderland this week, as they secured their second win of the week in Kitty Magee Arena on Saturday afternoon against Eastern New Mexico.

TWU (10-1, 4-0) defeated ENMU (4-6, 0-4) by 10 points on Saturday, 81-71, to remain undefeated in Lone Star Conference action. With the win today, the Pioneers remain one of three teams still undefeated in conference play – TWU, UT Tyler and Lubbock Christian.

Across the 40 minutes of action, TWU scored 19 or more points in all four quarters. Their most points, 22, came in the third quarter, as the Pioneers once again had a great response out of halftime. 

The Pioneers shot 51.1% from the field – their fourth time this season shooting 50% or better in a contest. From the three point line, they shot a season high 47.1% on eight made threes.

In the win, TWU's bench stepped up, scoring 36 of the Pioneers' 81 points. The 36 points matches the Pioneers' most bench points in a game since their win over Texas A&M – Kingsville on Jan. 12, 2023.

The leading scorer in today's win was Averee Kleinhans. She finished with a career high 21 points on 8-10 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc.  She also dished out a season high five assists. Jada Celsur also matched her career high in points today, finishing the game with 19. Finally, Leila Patel joined them in double-digits, scoring 10 in the game and grabbing three rebounds.

Ariyanna Hines led the Pioneers on the boards with four rebounds. Kleinhans, Celsur and Patel all finished with three.

Kleinhans also led the charge for the Pioneers on defense, grabbing a career high six steals. On the game, TWU forced the Greyhounds to turn the ball over 23 times – a season high for TWU. The Pioneers also turned those 23 turnovers into 28 points.

TWU shared the wealth today in the win, dishing out 14 assists. Kleinhans led with five, and Hines recorded three assists on the day.

The Pioneers finished with 30 points in the paint and 14 fast break points, as the lead changed just five times over the course of the 40 minutes.

In the first quarter, the lead went back-and-forth as both teams tried to settle into a rhythm. After an early push by the Greyhounds, the Pioneers found their first lead of the game at the 3:26 mark, 14-13, in the first quarter off two made free throws by Scout Huffman. One minute later, a three pointer by Kleinhans after a steal by Gionna Carr extended the Pioneers lead to four, 17-13.

Nevertheless, the Greyhounds would continue to press. ENMU had the last word of the first quarter, but TWU held onto the lead heading into the second, 19-18.

ENMU opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run before Celsur silenced them with a made jumper to bring TWU within two, 23-21. The, with six minutes left in the half, a three by Patel gave the Pioneers back the lead, 24-23.

Then, Kleinhans found her fire and ended the second quarter with nine of the Pioneers' 11 points in the remaining five minutes of first half action to send TWU into halftime with their largest lead of the first half at six, 40-34.

Kleinhans picked up right where she left off after halftime, opening the third quarter with seven points. Three of those seven points came on an explosive and-one connection to put TWU ahead by nine, 48-39, with 6:43 left on the clock.

After ENMU hit two free throws to draw back within eight, 49-41, Kayla Glover connected on a three pointer to push the Pioneers back up by double-digits, 52-41.

TWU would find their largest lead of the game at 13 points multiple times in the third quarter, including at the 3:03 mark off a basket by Carr to make the score, 56-43. Then again at the 2:21 mark off two made free throws by Hines to put the Pioneers ahead, 58-45.

Caroline Glud Rasmussen energized the crowd with an and-one opportunity that she successfully cashed in on with 47 seconds remaining in the third, and TWU went into the final quarter of action up by 10, 62-52.

After opening the fourth quarter with four quick points, the Pioneers would go on a scoring drought for three minutes, which was broken at the five minute mark by a triple from Patel to push TWU back up by nine, 69-60.

The Pioneers maintained their composure down the stretch and made big time plays on both ends of the floor to seal the win at home. With 13 seconds left on the clock in the fourth, ENMU would foul twice in the waning seconds. Carr and Patel both had ice in their veins and made all four free throws to claim the win for TWU, 81-71.

TWU will be back in action on the road on Dec. 19 at Harding for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

Hear from Coach Beth Jillson after the game: https://youtu.be/ftix-bHEK-Q