DENTON, Texas (Jan. 4, 2024) – Disruptive defense proved to be the difference maker in Thursday afternoon's win for the Texas Woman's basketball team against the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.
 
TWU (11-3, 5-1) defeated UAFS (4-8, 2-4) by 18 in Kitty Magee Arena, 77-59. During the 40 minutes of action, the Pioneers forced the Lions to turn the ball over 26 times – marking a season high opponent turnover mark, the most turnovers TWU has forced since the 2019-20 season and a season-high for the Lions. 
 
Off of the 26 turnovers, the Pioneers scored 23 points.
 
After recently enduring slow starts, TWU opened up Thursday's game with 28 points, not only their most points in a first quarter this season, but their most points in any quarter this season. In the first quarter alone, the Pioneers shot above 40% from the field and the three and 100% from the free throw line.
 
While the second and third quarter saw difficulties shooting from downtown for the Pioneers, they persevered and fought to close the game with fervor. TWU ended the game with a huge exclamation point, as they scored 22 points and held UAFS to just eight points in the final 10 minutes – the Pioneers' ninth quarter this season holding their opponent to under 10 points in a quarter.
 
The Pioneers were led by Ashley Ingram, who dominated five stat categories for TWU in the win. Ingram finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds to record her seventh double-double of the season. Along with topping the TWU leader board in those two categories, Ingram also led with six assists and six steals. The six steals marked a career high for Ingram. On the afternoon, Ingram shot perfection from the three and the free throw line.
 
On the season, Ingram is averaging 18.1 points per game, which ranks second in the Lone Star Conference, and shooting 64.1% from the field, which ranks first in the LSC and fourth overall in Division II.
 
Leila Patel joined Ingram with double-digits in the win, scoring 17 points – eight of which came in the first quarter, as Patel lit the flame for the Pioneers' explosive start. Patel also added five rebounds and three steals to her stat line.
 
Finishing with 11 points on the afternoon, a season high, was Ariyanna Hines, who helped propel TWU to the big win in KMA.
 
While Ingram led the defensive charge with six steals, Patel, Jada Celsur, and Gionna Carr all recorded three steals. Carr helped set the tone defensively for the Pioneers, as she got her first TWU starting nod today.
 
As a team, the Pioneers finished with a season high 18 steals – their most steals in a game since their victory over UAFS on Dec. 2, 2021.
 
Sharing the wealth also attributed to victory, as the Pioneers recorded 17 assists – their second highest on the season. Apart from Ingram's leading six, Celsur and Averee Kleinhans, who got her first TWU career start today, each dished out five assists – both matching their career highs.
 
To start the game, UAFS scored the first two baskets, unanswered, before the Pioneers mounted a 6-0 run over two minutes to lead by three, 9-6, with 5:51 remaining in the quarter.
 
The TWU lead remained at one until the 4:07 mark, when a jump shot by Hines ignited an explosive final four minutes of the quarter for TWU. With 2:30 left on the clock, Patel grabbed a steal, got fouled going to the basket and connected on both free throws to give the Pioneers their first double-digit lead of the game at 10, 24-14.
 
Down the stretch of the final four minutes of the first quarter, TWU would only allow the Lions to score just one point, as they went into the second quarter with a 13-point advantage, 28-15, after a last-second put-back bucket by Ingram.
 
The established TWU lead allowed them to withstand some droughts in the second quarter, as UAFS outscored the Lions 18-14. Nevertheless, the Pioneers found their largest lead of the first half in the second quarter at 16, 33-17, after a steal and made jumper by Kleinhans.
 
As the second quarter winded down, the Lions and the Pioneers traded free throws. UAFS would hit a last second three to close the second quarter, but TWU went into the locker room with the 42-33 advantage.
 
The Pioneers got a slow start to the third quarter, as they scored just five points in the first five minutes of action. Despite the drought, TWU worked to play lockdown defense and remain connected. 
 
With 4:50 remaining in the third, the Lions tied the game up at 47. The tie proved to awaken the scoring for the Pioneers. Following the 47-point tie, TWU would score eight more points to close the quarter and head into the final quarter of action with a four-point advantage, 55-51.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lions tied the score at 58 just three minutes into the fourth quarter.
 
Once again, the tie refocused the Pioneers and lit the flame they needed to explode to end the quarter. In the remaining seven minutes, TWU played lock down defense, allowing UAFS to score just one more point. On the offensive end, two free throws by Kleinhans ignited an impressive 19-1 run to close the fourth quarter and close the game.
 
Tonight's 77-59 win marked the Pioneers' 11th win of the season, and TWU's seventh double-digit win of the season.
 
"Our strong first quarter really set the tone for us this afternoon," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "I am also proud of how we distributed the ball today and found the open person to get the best shot. We endured some scoring droughts and found ways to focus in and secure the win at home. We look forward to being back at home on Saturday!"
 
TWU will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. against Oklahoma Christian in KMA.