FRISCO, Texas (March 10, 2024) – The buzzer sounded. The cheers erupted. The joy overflowed.
 
The moment etched in memories forever.
 
"THE TWU PIONEERS HAVE WON THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TITLE!"
 
A moment etched history that stands as culmination of countless moments which began long before and over the course of this entire season - tough moments, happy moments, tired moments and fun moments — all to achieve a goal in the first step of the Texas Woman's basketball post season journey.
 
TWU (29-4) claimed their second Lone Star Conference Championship Title and first since 2011 on Sunday afternoon with the 70-60 victory over UT Permian Basin (24-7).
 
The Pioneers came into the season ranked second on the LSC Preseason Poll behind Angelo State, and they ended on top – claiming the LSC Regular Season Title and the LSC Championships Title. This marks this first year in program history that TWU has won both the titles in the same season.
 
The tone was set early in the championship – it was a physical battle between two top LSC teams. Nevertheless, the diversified scoring of TWU proved to be the difference maker.
 
Averee Kleinhans, who was named the tournament MVP, led TWU with 20 points. Kleinhans boasted a robust stat line in the championship game, grabbing three steals, dishing out three assists and bringing down four rebounds in the win. Over the three-game tournament, Kleinhans averaged 16 points per game and three assists per game. She shot 62.5% from the field, 60% from beyond the arc and 92.3% from the free throw line. This marks the Pioneers' second LSC Tournament MVP in program history.
 
Four Pioneers joined Kleinhans in double-digits. Jada Celsur finished with 17 points, two assists and three rebounds. Celsur was named to the LSC All-Tournament Team following the game. Over the course of the tournament, Celsur averaged 12.3 points per game, 3.3 assists per game and 80% from the free throw line. Ashley Ingram scored 12 points in the game on 5-of-9 from the field. She dished out four assists and grabbed a game high 14 rebounds in the win. With the 12 points and a season high 14 rebounds, Ingram recorded her 16th double-double of the season.
 
Leila Patel and Scout Huffman both scored 10 points for TWU in the win. Huffman also dished a career high four assists to share the wealth, and Patel recorded three assists. On the boards, Huffman grabbed six, and Patel finished with three.
 
Rebounding proved to be a big point of emphasis for the Pioneers, as they righted the tables after being out-rebounded by the Falcons in the first meeting. TWU finished with two more boards than UPTB, 37-35.
 
TWU controlled the paint well throughout the game, scoring 30 points in the painted area.
 
Down the stretch, the Pioneers continued to show their poise, control and trust, as they responded well to turning the ball over 16 times for 23 UTPB points. Pushing and persevering to find a way to win is reflected in the Pioneers' response to the turnover battle.
 
While the game in-person may have seemed a lot more nerve-wracking, the score was only tied once and the lead changed just twice, as TWU flexed their ability to score at multiple levels.
 
On the game, TWU shot 48.1% from the field, 44.4% from the three and 85.7% from the free throw line. The third quarter once again (as it has all tournament) was where the tides changed and TWU broke away from the Falcons. In the third quarter, TWU shot 8-of-13 from the field, 80% from the three point line and 100% from the free throw line.
 
In front of an incredible TWU crowd, amazing pep band and outstanding Pioneer Pride dance team, the Pioneers struck first in the opening quarter of action – Huffman hit a jumper off the assist by Caroline Glud Rasmussen to get the game started. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair. TWU led by as much as seven in the quarter, but UTPB found a lead late; however, Celsur hit the three point silencer with nine seconds on the clock to send the Pioneers into the second quarter ahead by two, 14-12.
 
While the third quarter boasted the highest percentages for the Pioneers, the second quarter is where the momentum shift truly occurred. In the second quarter, TWU held UTPB to just eight points, marking the 20th quarter this season the Pioneers have held their opponent to less than 10 points in a quarter.
 
The lockdown on defense ignited TWU on offense, as they outscored the Falcons 18-8 in the quarter. Late in the third, with three minutes on the clock, Patel hit her signature stop and pop shot to give TWU their first double-digit lead of the afternoon, 29-18. Then, to end the quarter, Patel got to the free throw line and knocked down two free throws to send the Pioneers into the halftime break with a confident 12-point advantage.
 
TWU utilized the confident lead to remain poised and focused, never letting their foot off the gas.
 
In the opening 15 seconds of the third quarter, Celsur drained a triple to put the Pioneers ahead by 15, 35-20, and excite the TWU faithful. Patel caught the three point fire and hit a triple of her own just over a minute after Celsur to keep the Pioneers ahead by 15, 38-23.
 
Ingram answered Patel with back-to-back buckets, including a monstrous and-one to keep TWU ahead by double-digits, 43-30, with four minutes left in the third.
 
With two minutes on the clock, Celsur would hit another three, followed by a jumper in the paint to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the night at 16, 50-34.
 
The MVP Kleinhans would have the final say of the third with a three pointer to send the crowd to their feet, and TWU to the final quarter of action ahead by 15, 55-40.
 
TWU maintained the decisive lead throughout the entirety of the fourth quarter. UTPB gave a push, but the Pioneers found an offensive answer each time. UTPB cut the lead to just nine with 1:48 on the clock, by Ingram quickly got to the basket on the other end to push TWU back ahead by 11, 68-57, as the Pioneers' focus showed throughout and the championship feels started to run through the arena for TWU.
 
The Pioneers locked down defensively in the remaining minute, and Kleinhans would put the exclamation point on the win with two made free throws to claim the championship for the Pioneers, 70-60.
 
Following the championship, TWU was also announced as the No. 1 seed in the South Central Region for the first time in program history. TWU will host the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament this week March 15-18.
 
Watch the championship press conference featuring Averee Kleinhans, Ashley Ingram, Jada Celsur and Head Coach Beth Jillson here.