DENTON, Texas (Jan. 20, 2024) – The Texas Woman's basketball team held the No. 5 highest scoring offense in Division II to just 59 points and recorded their third Top 25 win this season, defeating No. 19 Texas A&M International in Kitty Magee Arena on Saturday afternoon, 73-59.
 
TWU (16-3, 10-1) recorded their 10th win in Lone Star Conference action, marking their third straight season with 10+ wins in the LSC. The Pioneers handed TAMIU (15-4, 7-4) just their fourth loss of the season, but second straight LSC loss this week.
 
The Pioneers scored 42 points in the paint in the win – their most this season since 44 points on Dec. 19 against Harding. From the field, TWU also won the efficiency battle, as they shot 45.5% from the field and held the Dustdevils to 38.2% from the field.
 
From the field, Ashley Ingram led the scoring effort for the Pioneers. Ingram led all scorers with 22 points. She also grabbed 13 rebounds to record her ninth double-double of the season. Ingram dished out two assists, grabbed two steals and recorded two blocks for an impressive stat line in the win. With her 22 points, Ingram now ranks sixth all-time in points for TWU. Additionally, her two blocks moved her to 68 blocks in her career, which now places Ingram in fifth all-time in TWU program history.
 
Three more Pioneers joined Ingram in double-figures: Leila Patel and Averee Kleinhans both finished with 13 points, and Jada Celsur added 12.
 
On the defensive end, the Pioneers successfully disrupted the offensive flow of TAMIU. They forced the Dustdevils to commit 20 turnovers, which translated to 15 points for TWU.
 
TWU grabbed 13 steals on the day. Kleinhans and Scout Huffman dominated the defensive charge for the Pioneers – each grabbing four steals each. The four steals represented a career high mark for Huffman.
 
Contributing to the win was the Pioneers' dominance on the boards as well. TWU out-rebounded the Dustdevils 41-30. While Ingram led with 13 for TWU, Kleinhans added six, and Celsur grabbed five rebounds.
 
Furthermore, Celsur went 5-9 from the field and added five assists to help ignite the Pioneers' offense. As a team, TWU shared the wealth with 14 assists. Patel also matched her career high with four assists, and Kleinhans dished out three assists, as all three Pioneers boasted a total impressive stat line to lead TWU to the win.
 
Saturday afternoon was a back-and-forth battle between two top LSC teams, as the score was tied six times and the lead changed eight times.
 
The Pioneers found their largest lead of the first quarter at four points off a jump shot by Celsur with 5:39 on the clock. Then, TWU and TAMIU exchanged baskets for the remaining five minutes of the first quarter. Ingram connected on two free throws with 1:24 on the clock; nevertheless, just nine seconds later, the Dustdevils had the final word of the first quarter, hitting a three pointer to close the first quarter with a one point lead, 17-16.
 
TWU would only lose the first quarter, winning the remaining three quarters over TAMIU.
 
In the second quarter, neither team scored for a minute of play. Patel broke the drought and reclaimed the lead for the Pioneers with a jumper on a fast break, 18-17. The Dustdevils would then take the slight lead, until 4:16 on the clock. Caroline Glud Rasmussen hit a basket in the paint off the assist from Kleinhans to give TWU the one-point lead, 25-24.
 
The second quarter was a low scoring affair for both teams. While the Pioneers scored just 14 points, they successfully locked down the Dustdevils and held them to just 12 points. 
 
Despite the low scoring quarter, TWU would hold the lead heading into halftime. After a last-second three pointer by TAMIU, the Pioneers went into the 15-minute break ahead by one, 30-29.
 
The Pioneers came out with renewed energy in the second half, as they would lead for the entirety of the final 20 minutes of action. Ingram ignited the crowd and the scoring energy to set the tone for the second half early in the third quarter with a completed and-one opportunity with 9:47 remaining in the third.
 
Patel would give the Pioneers their largest lead of the third quarter at eight points, 47-39, with three minutes left in the quarter off an assist by Ingram.
 
While the scoring still went back-and-forth TWU had momentum and control throughout, Ingram ended the third quarter the same way she started it with a successful and-one to send the Pioneers into the final quarter of action ahead by seven, 56-49.
 
TWU would outscore the Dustdevils 26-20 in the third quarter to record their highest quarter of scoring this season since their 28-point quarter on Jan. 4 against UAFS.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers kept their foot on the gas, finding their first double-digit lead of the game, 65-55, at the 6:20 mark off a jumper by Ingram. After hitting the 10-point advantage, TWU kept rolling on offense and defense. They held the Dustdevils to just 10 points in the final quarter of action.
 
A made free throw by Hadyn Collie would put the bow on a great game for the Pioneers, as TWU claimed the victory by 14 points, 73-59.
 
"Our team really stayed locked in and battled on both ends of the floor today," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "We had four players in double figures on the offensive end, while we also forced TAMIU to turn the ball over 20 times, showing our success on the defensive end as well. Our team continues to step up in big ways, respond to adversity well and work together to win games. We're excited to go back on the road next week for more great LSC opportunities."
 
The Pioneers will travel to West Texas A&M on Thursday, Jan. 25 for their next LSC contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.