BETHANY, Okla. (Nov. 15, 2024) – On Friday night in Bethany, Okla., the Texas Woman's basketball team calmed the Storm, as they defeated the Crimson Storm, 55-44.

No. 1 TWU (5-0) handed No. 22 Southern Nazarene (1-2) their first regular season loss on their home floor since Feb. 26, 2022.

The Pioneers are 5-0 to start the season for the second straight season. It marked the first win of the season over a ranked team for TWU. SNU was ranked No. 22 on the WBCA Preseason Poll. On the first in-season release of the D2CCA National Poll, the Crimson Storm was receiving votes.

TWU defeated SNU for the first time in program history, as it marked the first meeting between the two teams since the 1987-88 season.

The 11-point victory was the Pioneers' fourth straight win by double-digits this season.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Leila Patel finished the night with a season high 19 points 7-of-16 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line. She also added one steal and four rebounds to her stat line.
• Averee Kleinhans came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Pioneers on an efficient 5-of-8 from the field. She also grabbed four rebounds and one steal in the win.
• Ashley Ingram dominated the boards for the Pioneers. She grabbed a career high 16 rebounds and scored 10 points to record her second double-double of the season. On defense, she recorded a season high two blocks and also grabbed one steal.
• Three Pioneers joined Kleinhans and Patel with four rebounds in the game: Kayla Glover, Scout Huffman and Gabby Elliott.
• Huffman led the Pioneers in steals with a season high two in the win.
• Jada Celsur matched her career high with two blocks on the night. She also dished out the most assists for the Pioneers in the game with a season high tying three.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• Ashley Ingram scored the first bucket of the night at the 8:49 mark in the first quarter to give TWU the early 2-0 lead.
• The first quarter was a low-scoring affair, as TWU shot 4-of-13 from the field and SNU shot 3-of-15 from the field.
• After trailing by one point, Kleinhans tied it back up at nine off a made free throw. Then, Ingram hit a jumper in the paint to give TWU the two-point lead heading into the second quarter, 11-9.
• The Pioneers put their foot on the gas in the second quarter, scoring 18 points and holding SNU to 12.
• TWU would lead by as many as eight multiple times in the second quarter. With 2:55 left in the half, Patel would connect on an and-one opportunity to give TWU the eight-point advantage, 25-17.
• SNU would cut to the lead to six quickly, but Kleinhans easily found the response after an SNU miss with two minutes remaining in the first half to push TWU's lead back to eight, 27-19. Once again, the Crimson Storm would cut it to six, 27-21, just 15 seconds after Kleinhans' layup. Then, both teams would remain scoreless for over a minute. Glover would end the scoreless drought with five seconds remaining in the first half and send TWU into the locker room with an eight-point lead, 29-21.
• The Pioneers came out hot in the third quarter, as Patel opened the half with two straight three pointers to give TWU their first double-digit lead of the night at 11, 35-24.
• SNU would cut the lead to six, before defense would shine for both teams, as neither team would score for two minutes of action. The Crimson Storm would end the scoring drought and come within four at the 4:39 mark, 37-33. Twenty seconds later, Kleinhans hit a contested jumper to push TWU back ahead by six, 39-33.
• TWU would close the third quarter strong on defense, holding the Crimson Storm scoreless for the final four minutes of action in the quarter.
• The Pioneers would head into the fourth and final quarter of action ahead by nine, 43-34.
• Patel would return TWU to their double-digit lead just two minutes, 47-36, into the fourth quarter off a smooth jumper.
• Glover would connect on a triple with 5:30 remaining in the game to keep TWU head by 10, 50-40.
• TWU would lock down on defense for the final five minutes of action, as SNU would not score after the five-minute mark until the final two seconds of the game.
• Ingram scored the last point of the game for TWU, a free throw, to give TWU their largest lead of the night at 13, 55-42.
• After the final last second basket by SNU, the Pioneers would seal their fifth straight win of the season, 55-44.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BETH JILLSON

"Leila was a big difference maker for us tonight," Coach Jillson said. "She came out after halftime and connected on two threes, which really set the tone we needed for a strong second half finish. Ashley anchored our defense in the post, and Jada and Kayla defended their point guards well, as we allowed just one player to score in double-digits. Our bench has been such a strong point for us, and it was no different tonight, as Averee provided the spark we needed in the second rotation. Finally, we did a great job of crashing the glass and hunting the rebounds, as we limited SNU's time of possession by grabbing 15 offensive rebounds. I am proud of our total team performance tonight, and we are excited to be at home for our next game."
NEXT UP

The Pioneers will play their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. against Colorado School of Mines. Prior to the start of the game, TWU will celebrate last season with a banner reveal at 5:50 p.m.