ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Nov. 3, 2024) – The Texas Woman's basketball team returns to Denton, Texas after an undefeated weekend at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic.

On Sunday, No. 2 TWU (2-0) closed the Tip-Off Classic against Northwest Missouri State (1-1) with a 58-41 victory. The Pioneers held the Bearcats to just six points in the first and second quarters to keep the game low-scoring and secure their second win of the season.

NWMSU came into today's game off an upset victory over No. 5 Ashland, 57-49. However, they struggled to get their offense going tonight against a stalwart TWU defense. The Pioneers held the Bearcats to shooting just 27.8% from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc.

It marked the first win in program history against the Bearcats for TWU in three overall meetings. The two teams had not met since the 1996-97 season.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Ashley Ingram led all scorers with a season-high 23 points – her first 20-point game of the season. She shot 9-14 from the field, 2-4 from the three point line and 3-4 from the charity stripe. Ingram also grabbed six rebounds and four steals in the win and dished out three assists.
• Averee Kleinhans scored nine points off the bench. She went a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line – going perfect for the second straight game. She also grabbed two steals and a season-high five rebounds in the win.
• Scout Huffman and Gabby Elliott both scored eight points in the win.
• Elliott and Kayla Glover joined Kleinhans as perfect from the charity stripe. Elliott went 4-for-4 and Glover went 2-for-2
• Huffman and Ariyanna Hines joined Ingram with six rebounds each to lead TWU to 41 total rebounds, as they outrebounded the Bearcats by six. The six rebounds marked a season-high for both Pioneers.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• TWU once again dominated points in the paint, outscoring the Bearcats 38-22.
• While TWU committed 16 turnovers, they only allowed NWMSU to score 11 points off those turnovers. On the defensive end, the Pioneers forced the Bearcats to turn the ball over 20 times for 17 TWU points.
• The Pioneers grabbed 10 steals on the night and recorded four blocks.
• TWU shot 39.6% from the field, 20% from the three point line and 14-17 from the free throw line. They committed just nine fouls on the night, as NWMSU went 7-12 from the charity stripe. The Pioneers did a great job of attacking the basket, as they drew 15 fouls on the night.
• Over the course of 40 minutes, the score was tied just twice – both in the first quarter. Apart from those two ties, the Pioneers held the lead for the entirety of the game.
• The game started out slow and low scoring. After the first 10 minutes of action, the Pioneers led by three, 9-6.
• After the slow start, the Pioneers responded with a 20-point second quarter. A layup by Ingram quickly ignited the second quarter energy for TWU to increase their lead to five, 11-6. Just 40 seconds after opening the quarter with a layup, Ingram connected on her second triple of the night to raise TWU's lead to eight, 14-6.
• The Pioneers would hold the Bearcats scoreless in the second quarter until the 5:26 mark.
• Two made free throws to end the half by Kleinhans would give the Pioneers their largest lead of the first half at 17, 29-12.
• NWMSU came out of halftime with renewed energy and scored 15 points in the third quarter. TWU maintained their composure and, with 14 points of their own, the Pioneers maintained a double-digit lead throughout the entirety of the third quarter.
• In the third, TWU would lead by as much as 19 points right out of the break, after a layup by Ingram at the 9:37 mark, 31-12.
• TWU remained locked in on defense and continued to find easy offensive buckets in the fourth quarter.
• Gionna Carr gave TWU their largest lead of the night at 22, 56-36, after a made free throw.
• Kleinhans scored the last bucket of the night for the Pioneers off a commanding drive and finish with 23 seconds remaining on the clock.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BETH JILLSON

"I am super proud of our defensive effort tonight," Coach Jillson said. "Our depth was a difference maker, as our bench came in and scored 21 points. It was amazing to have Mid-Buchanan back cheering us on to the win tonight. We were grateful for their encouragement. It was a full circle moment being back after last season, and we are thankful for the experience."

NEXT UP

The Pioneers will be back on the road next weekend in Denver, Colo. at the Conference Challenge hosted by MSU Denver. TWU will play Western Colorado on Friday, Nov. 8 and MSU Denver on Sunday, Nov. 10.