DENTON, Texas (Jan. 6, 2024) – Pioneered by a career high performance from Scout Huffman, the Texas Woman's basketball team recorded their 12th win of the 2023-24 season with a dominating 25-point victory, 77-52, over Oklahoma Christian.
 
In the win over OC (2-9, 1-6), TWU (12-3, 6-1) recorded their highest margin of victory since their 30-point win on Nov. 11, 2023 over MSU Denver.
 
The Pioneers shot 55.1% from the field in the win – their second highest shooting percentage of the season. They were led from the field by Huffman who went 11-13 from the field and finished the afternoon with a career high 26 points. Huffman also went a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
 
Ashley Ingram also boasted another impressive stat line in the game, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out seven assists and recording two blocks. Ingram recorded her eighth double-double of the season and narrowly missed her career assist mark which is eight.
 
Eight Pioneers scored in the win, as the diversified scoring helped guide TWU to success in the 40 minutes of action.
 
TWU also won the rebounding battle, out-rebounding the Eagles 35-29. Ingram led the board battle, while Jada Celsur and Averee Kleinhans both added five each in the win.
 
Sharing the wealth really led the Pioneers to quality shot selection and a productive offense against the Eagles. TWU recorded 23 assists (one off their season high). While Ingram led with seven, Celsur matched her career high with five assists and Kleinhans added four.
 
Success on offense stemmed from the Pioneers success on defense. Continuing the trend from Thursday night, TWU started off strong on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. In the opening quarter of action, TWU shot 9-12 from the field to score 22 points. While they were cooking on offense, their defense held the Eagles to just six points in the first quarter – the Pioneers' tenth quarter this season holding a team to less than 10 points. It also marked OC's lowest points in a quarter of the season.
 
Huffman quickly got the Pioneers going in the first minute of action, hitting a layup off an assist from Celsur. On the next play, a block by Ingram on the defensive end led to a made triple by Kleinhans to increase the Pioneers' lead to a quick, 5-0. The Eagles would not score until the seven minute mark of the first.
 
With 6:18 on the clock, a jumper by Leila Patel gave TWU their first double-digit lead of the game at 10, 12-2. The first quarter was all Pioneers, as they closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to head into the second quarter of action up 16, 22-6.
 
The Pioneers slowed down their offensive production slightly in the second quarter but remained accurately focused – still shooting 50% from the floor. While OC gained some energy on offense and scored 15 in the second quarter, the Pioneers kept their foot on the gas.
 
TWU found its largest lead of the first half at 17 twice in the second quarter. The first came with 5:53 on the clock off a layup by Ingram to bring the score to 28-11.
 
After a quick bucket by OC, Huffman kicked the Pioneers' lead back up to 17, 30-13, just 30 seconds after Ingram.
 
While Huffman finished the night 11-13 from the field, she did not miss a field goal until 7:54 in the third quarter.
 
After some back-and-forth scoring in the third quarter, Patel hit the final exclamation point of the first half with a made three off the assist by Ariyanna Hines to send the Pioneers into the halftime break ahead by 16 points, 37-21.
 
In the second half, the Pioneers returned to their high offensive production and scored 20 points in both the third and fourth quarter.
 
Huffman quickly kept the Pioneers rolling in the third quarter, picking up right where she left off and increasing TWU's lead to 18 with 9:23 on the clock. TWU would lead by as much as 19 in the quarter. A free throw by Patel would close the quarter and send TWU into the final 10 minutes of action ahead by 17, 57-40.
 
The Pioneers opened the fourth with a 9-2 run to cement their win. During the run, Celsur connected on a triple at the 9:23 mark to give TWU their first 20-point lead of the night, as they led by 22, 62-40. After this point, the Pioneers would maintain a 20 or more point lead for the remainder of the fourth.
 
Kaylie Morgan put the final bow on the Pioneers' dominating win. After a steal on the defensive end, she dished out an assist on the offensive end to Gionna Carr to give the Pioneers their 25-point advantage and end the game, 77-52.
 
"Once again, our strong first quarter really set the tone for us this afternoon," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "We had eight people score today, which really shows the strength and diversity of our lineup. It was great to see everyone step up and into their role and be successful today. Huge shoutout to Scout who played with a locked-in focus today and guided us to the win. 
 
TWU will be on the road from their next game, as they travel to St. Mary's on Jan. 11. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.