DENTON, Texas (Nov. 19, 2025) – It has been a flurry of activity for Texas Woman's basketball to start the 2025-26 season, having played a Lone Star Conference – leading fifth game tonight at Kitty Magee Arena, but the sixth-ranked Pioneers remained strong, topping Southern Nazarene tonight 78-44.

TWU (4-1) saw improvement with three pointers, setting a season high with seven triples at a .538 percentage – their highest three point percentage since Jan. 23, 2025. The Pioneers were equally stout defensively against SNU (0-1), tallying a season-high 32 defensive rebounds – adding to their season total of 132, which leads the LSC. 

The Pioneers were careful to keep SNU off the free-throw line as well, with the Crimson Storm allowed only 12 attempts, five of which were made – both numbers are new season lows for Pioneer opponents.

The Storm came out swinging to begin the game, tallying the first basket off a turnover; however, TWU ignited their game with a 12-0 scoring run to take control of the opening period, and eventually the game. The Pioneers 34-point victory marked their largest margin of victory of the season and largest margin since their 52-point win over Cameron on Feb. 1, 2025. In their last three games, TWU has defeated their opponents by an average margin of 23.3 points. 

TWU's stifling defense held SNU to two quarter below 10 points – the first and second – as they gave up just nine points in each, marking their fourth and fifth quarters this season holding their opponent to under 10 points in a quarter. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• The reigning back-to-back LSC Offensive Player of the Week, Gabby Elliott recorded her second straight double-double, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Elliott led the Pioneers tonight with the most free throw attempts at 10 and also led the team with free throws made, missing only one.
• Madi Lumsden led TWU in scoring with 16 points and was one of three Pioneers in the game with a pair of threes.
• Averee Kleinhans tallied 13 points in the game, adding four defensive rebounds as well.
• Avery McConnell also tallied a career high 13 points in the win, her first game this season with double-digit points. She tallied a pair of three pointers as well.
• Jada Celsur rounded out TWU's double-digit scorers with 11 points on the night. Celsur played the most minutes in the game (34) and led the team in steals with three.
• Kaylie Morgan scored a career high eight points in the win. 
• On the boards, Jaylee Moss grabbed a career high five rebounds in just her third game of her freshman season. 

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• SNU started the game hot, scoring the first basket off a turnover in the first 30 seconds of the opening period. Elliott then made a pair of free throws to tie the game 2-2, but the Storm regained the lead at 4-2 shortly after. A three pointer by Lumsden at the 8:29 mark gave TWU their first lead at 5-4; and the Pioneers would hold on to this lead until the final buzzer.
• Lumsden's second three of the game capped a 12-0 scoring run with 3:58 to go in the first period, and also gave TWU their first double-digit lead at 14-4.
• Following the second Lumsden three pointer, SNU brought the Pioneers lead back down to single digits, 14-6; however, a good layup by Kleinhans while fouled, followed by the successful and-one, regained the double-digit back lead at 17-6. TWU led by double digits until the final buzzer at this point.
• The second period began in the Pioneers favor with a 7-0 scoring run, the first four points coming from successful free throws all by Elliott. A layup and successful free throw by Lumsden ended the scoring run, and gave TWU a 20 point lead at 29-9.
• TWU held a minimum 20-point advantage throughout the third period, with a jumper by Celsur with eight seconds remaining giving the Pioneers a 63-33 lead, their first 30-point lead at any point of the season.
• The Pioneers remained solid in the final period of play, with SNU struggling to keep the score margin at under 30 points. A McConnell triple would close the scoring on the night with 1:13 on the clock in the final quarter of action, as the Pioneers clinched their fourth win of the season, 78-44. 

HEAR FROM GABBY ELLIOTT

Check out the post game interview from Gabby Elliott: https://youtu.be/wfoIHq6Vqrk

NEXT UP

The Pioneers begin a three-game road swing in Pittsburg, Kansas Nov. 25, taking on the No. 2 Pittsburg State Gorillas for a 5:30 p.m. tip off.