DENTON, Texas (Feb. 8, 2024) – The Texas Woman's basketball team recorded their 11th straight win and 11th straight win by 10 or more points.

TWU (21-3, 10-1) won for the 10th time this season in Kitty Magee Arena, as they defeated St. Edward's (7-14, 4-11) on Thursday night, 69-59.

The Pioneers completed the season sweep of the Hilltoppers with the win on Thursday. Additionally, TWU improved to 15-1 in Lone Star Conference action and currently hold the No. 1 spot in the LSC.

On the offensive end, TWU was led by Leila Patel with 22 points, marking her second straight game with more than 20 points. On her way to her 22, Patel shot 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Ashley Ingram was the lone Pioneer to join Patel in double digits, scoring 18 points in the win. Ingram also grabbed 10 rebounds to record her 12th double-double of the season. She also dished out two assists in the game.

The Pioneers scored 36 of their 69 points in the paint.

Their offensive success came from their strong defensive pressure throughout the contest. TWU forced the Hilltoppers to turn the ball over 23 times, scoring 25 points off those 23 turnovers. It marked the eighth time this season the Pioneers have forced their opponent to turnover the ball 20 or more times.

On the defensive side of the ball, Averee Kleinhans grabbed a career high seven steals, while Ariyanna Hines grabbed two for TWU.

TWU opened up the game quickly flexing their offensive and defensive dominance.

In the first quarter, the Pioneers held the Hilltoppers to just three points on the scoreboard until the 3:15 mark on the clock. TWU rode a 17-3 run in the first seven minutes of action. The Pioneers would hold SEU to just 10 points in the opening quarter of action.

Patel put the exclamation point on the first quarter for TWU, as she knocked down a contested three with seven seconds on the clock off an assist by Ingram.

TWU ended the first quarter with a 24-10 lead.

To open the second quarter, the Pioneers kept their foot on the gas. Patel continued her strong shooting performance, as she rode the momentum from the first quarter. Patel connected on another triple with five minutes on the clock to give TWU their first 20-point lead of the game.

The Pioneers would lead by double-digits throughout the entirety of second quarter. Hines would have the final word of the first half with a layup after a steal by Gionna Carr to send TWU into the locker room with 13-point advantage, 41-28.

Out of halftime, both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm. After an explosive offense in the first half, the Pioneers cooled off slightly with 12 points in the third quarter. Nevertheless, TWU continued to limit the scoring of SEU to maintain their decisive lead.

The Pioneers held the Hilltoppers to just nine points in the third quarter, marking the 14th quarter this season where TWU held their opponent to less than 10 points in a quarter.

TWU quickly pushed the lead to 19 points, 58-39 – their most of the final quarter – at the 7:21 mark off a layup by Scout Huffman.

After the 7:21 mark, the Pioneers entered a scoring drought, and SEU went on a 12-1 run to bring the score to single digits with two minutes left in the game. Nevertheless, TWU continued to stay composed and locked in.

TWU quickly gained energy on the offensive end, pushing the lead back to double-digits. Jada Celsur ended the game for the Pioneers with two-made free throws to give TWU the 12-point lead, 69-57.

A final basket by SEU would close the game, as TWU claimed the 10-point victory, 69-59.

"I am proud of how we started the game and set the tone early on," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "It was exciting to celebrate Black History Month with our TWU students, who really brought the energy in the crowd tonight. We remained focused down the stretch. We look forward to our next opportunity on Saturday against St. Mary's."

TWU will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena against St. Mary's.