FRISCO, Texas (March 5, 2023) – In their first appearance in the Lone Star Conference Championship game in 12 years, the Texas Woman's basketball team fought until the final whistle, ultimately losing to Angelo State by one point, 63-62.
 
TWU (26-5, 19-3) returned to the LSC Championship game for the first time since 2011 and the third time in program history. After dropping the contest to Angelo State (25-6, 17-5) today, the Pioneers are 1-2 all-time in the tournament.
 
In the opening quarter, the Rambelles struck first, taking an early six-point lead, 8-2, with five minutes left in the first. Then, a triple by Sadie Moyer silenced ASU and brought the Pioneers within three, 8-5.
 
The Pioneers would find their first lead of the contest at 2:28 in the first off two made free throws by Ashley Ingram to give TWU the one-point advantage, 11-10. Back-and-forth-scoring would control the final minutes of the first quarter, but Moyer closed the quarter with a jumper to send the Pioneers into the second quarter with a one-point lead, 15-14.
 
The first 10 minutes was exactly what the Pioneers needed to get warm, as their offense came alive in the second quarter.
 
Ingram ignited the 10-0 run for the Pioneers to open the first four minutes of the second, scoring six of the 10 points in the run on three back-to-back made baskets—two of which were assisted by Scout Huffman.
 
Huffman and Ngozi Obineke also scored in the run to put TWU ahead by 11 points, 25-14.
 
The Rambelles attempted to cut into the lead but struggled to find consistency with their lineup in foul trouble.
 
After ASU cut the Pioneers' lead to eight with two minutes remaining in the half, TWU played great defense and allowed the Rambelles to score just two points in the final two minutes. Huffman closed the quarter with two free throws and a basket to send the Pioneers into halftime with a 10-point lead, 34-24.
 
In the first half, the Pioneers outscored the Rambelles 34-24 to hold a solid 10-point lead heading into the second of action and forced ASU into foul trouble, as a player fouled out in the first half.
 
Keslyn King opened the third quarter with a jumper to extend the Pioneers' advantage to 12, 36-24. The Pioneers would find their largest lead of the game at 15 points at the seven-minute mark of the third curtesy of a Moyer jumper.
 
TWU went scoreless for the next three minutes, but their defense kept them connected, as ASU only cut the lead to nine in that time. Two free throws by Ingram broke the drought to bring the Pioneers back up by 11 points, 42-31.
 
After the free throws by Ingram at 4:03, TWU would not score again until the 1:41 mark when Ingram hit two more free throws to put TWU up by nine, 44-35.
 
A closing quarter basket by ASU would send the Pioneers into the fourth quarter with an eight-point advantage 45-37.
 
To open the fourth quarter, the Rambelles went on a 12-5 run to bring the Pioneers' lead to just one point, 50-49.
 
The Rambelles would take their first lead since the first quarter with six minutes remaining in the game off a Madeline Stephens three pointer, 52-50.
 
Nevertheless, the Pioneers responded well, picking each other up and scoring to reclaim the lead. Ingram and King scored back-to-back baskets to put TWU ahead by three, 55-52.
 
ASU would score two more three pointers to get within two points, but a jumper by Moyer would give the Pioneers the four-point lead, 62-58, with two left in the game.
 
The final two minutes would decide the outcome. Sawyer Lloyd hit two free throws to cut ASU's  deficit to two and a jumper by Stephens would tie the game at 62 for ASU with 40 seconds left in the game.
 
After a timeout by TWU, the Rambelles pressured the ball well and TWU missed a jumper. Then, the Pioneers were called for a foul on the other end, where the Rambelles went one-of-two from the line.
 
TWU would have one more look at the basket, but a block by Stephens from ASU would seal the one-point win, 63-62, for ASU.
 
Ingram led the Pioneers with 22 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, recording her seventh double-double of the season.
 
King added 12 points and five boards for the Pioneers, and Obineke scored 10 points, going 100% from the free throw line. Moyer finished with nine points and seven rebounds, while Huffman scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and recorded three assists.
 
Following the game, Ingram and Huffman were named to the All-Tournament team, becoming the sixth and seventh players in TWU program history to make the team.

Hear the post game press conference featuring TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson, Ashley Ingram and Sadie Moyer. 
 
The Pioneers will look ahead to the South Central Regional Tournament. They will find out the bracket and host site tonight during the Selection Show at 9:30 p.m.