FRISCO, Texas (March 9, 2024) – The Texas Woman's Basketball team is championship bound for the second straight year and fourth time in program history.

TWU (28-4) recorded their 28th win of the season, as they defeated Texas A&M International (25-7) on Semifinal Saturday, 84-72.

Behind another strong third quarter, the Pioneers recorded their third win of the season over the Dustdevils.

In front of a sea of Pioneer faithful who ignited the Comerica Center with cheers, TWU shot 65.3% from the field, 42.9% from the three point line and 93.3% from the free throw line. The 65.3% from the field marked a season high for the Pioneers.

TWU also shared the wealth throughout the efficient night, finishing the game with a season high 25 assists. Ashley Ingram led the Pioneers with seven assists on the night.

Ingram, the LSC Player of the Year, dominated both ends of the floor tonight for the Pioneers. On the offensive end, she finished with 27 points to go along with her seven assists. She shot 9-of-11 from the field, 1-of-2 from the three and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. On the defensive end, she finished the game with two steals and seven rebounds.

Three Pioneers joined Ingram in double-digits. Leila Patel and Gionna Carr both finished with 12 points, which marked a season high for Carr, and Jada Celsur added 11 points in the win. The entire TWU offense was rocking, as every Pioneer who touched the floor tonight scored.

TWU out-rebounded the Dustdevils 33-18 in the win. Ingram led with seven, Patel grabbed six boards and Caroline Glud Rasmussen finished with four.

In lockdown mode on the defensive end, TWU scored 22 points off 14 TAMIU turnovers. Ingram led TWU with two steals on the night.

After trailing 22-14 at the conclusion of the first quarter, TWU opened the second quarter with renewed fervor. Scout Huffman hit a jumper off the assist by Celsur just 40 seconds into the second quarter to cut TWU's deficit to six, 22-16. The Pioneers found the equalizer to tie the game at 27-all with 5:52 on the clock off a three pointer by Patel.

Ingram gave TWU their first lead of the night not long after the momentum shift by Patel. Ingram drained a three of her own off the assist by Averee Kleinhans.
The teams would trade baskets for the remainder of the second quarter; nevertheless, the Pioneers would have the final say heading into the locker room at halftime. A jumper by Patel at the one minute mark put TWU up by one, 37-36. Then, Patel followed up with another jumper 30 seconds later to send the Pioneers into the halftime break with the three point advantage, 39-36.

Halftime proved to be the energizer the Pioneers needed. Much like the quarterfinal game, TWU dominated the third quarter to distance themselves in the semifinal game. The Pioneers outscored the Dustdevils in the third quarter, 30-18 – recording their third quarter this season with 30 or more points. The other two quarters of 30 or more points for TWU also came in a game against the Dustdevils on Feb. 15.

After claiming the lead at the 1:06 mark in the second quarter, the Pioneers would never trail again, as the second quarter was all TWU.

Ingram and Glud Rasmussen set the tone early for TWU in the third quarter, scoring two quick baskets to give the Pioneers the seven point advantage just one minute into the quarter, 43-36.

With the Pioneer faithful creating the home environment in the Comerica Center, TWU caught fire in the third after the initial ignition by Ingram and Glud Rasmussen.

At the seven minute mark, Celsur drained back-to-back three pointers to give the Pioneers their first double-digit lead of the night, 49-39.

Kleinhans hit a jumper to give TWU their largest lead of the night at 19 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, 63-44. The flame would continue to burn throughout the third, as the Pioneers shot 76.47% from the field in the third quarter.

TWU would take a 15-point lead into the final quarter of action. The Pioneers led by as much as 16 in the fourth, with the last 16 point advantage, 79-63, coming off a made basket by Carr, who played strong on offense and defense tonight, with 3:55 on the clock.

Huffman gave the Pioneers their largest lead of quarter at the 1:55 mark, 81-63.

With 10 seconds remaining on the clock, the realization of a shot at the championship tomorrow began to energize everyone. Celsur put the exclamation point on the win with a successful and-one with 10 seconds on the clock to go ahead by 15, 84-69.

TAMIU would hit a last second triple to close the game, as TWU closed Semifinal Saturday victorious for the second straight season, winning the game, 84-72.

"Our team has prided itself this season on trusting each other and staying connected with poise down the stretch," TWU Head Coach Beth Jillson said. "Those attributes really showed strong tonight and guided us to the win. Ashley, who led us with 27 points, stepped up and played so strong tonight. From getting timely buckets to frustrating TAMIU's top-scorer and then dishing out seven assists, Ashley did what she does best – she finds a way to impact winning. The team really fed off her energy tonight and played so strong. Jada and Leila hit timely shots, and Gionna stepped up for us with 12 points off the bench. Also, thank you to our incredible fans, pep band and dance team for making the environment loud and fun tonight. We are so thankful for you! I am so excited for the opportunity to go into Championship Sunday tomorrow with this team."

The Pioneers will meet UT Permian Basin tomorrow in the title game at 3:30 p.m. in the Comerica Center.

Watch the post game press conference here with Jada Celsur, Leila Patel and Head Coach Beth Jillson.