DENTON, Texas (Dec. 16, 2025) – A dominating first half turned into a gritty second for the return of Texas Woman's basketball to Kitty Magee Arena, but the win streak moves up to seven with a 59-53 win over St. Mary's, as the Pioneers handed the Rattlers their first loss of the season. 

TWU (8-1, 3-0) jumped out to a hot start to the game, opening with a 9-0 scoring run, en route to a 20-9 lead after the first period, marking the eighth quarter this season the Pioneers have held an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter. Then, TWU took a 33-22 lead to the half. 

However, STMU (7-1, 2-1) gave the fourth-ranked Pioneers everything they had in the second half, beginning with a third period in which the visitors outscored their opposition by a 20-9 margin as well. TWU got hot at the right time, as a trey by Jada Celsur sparked a rally with three minutes remaining to keep the undefeated streak in Lone Star Conference play alive.

The win was bolstered by a season high 42 team rebounds – 18 on offense for another season high mark, which produced 11 second chance points. The Pioneers also edged the Rattlers in defensive rebounds, 24 to 21, creating 17 points off turnovers. 

Despite enduring several scoring droughts, the Pioneers shot 36.4% from the field – the third highest field goal percentage allowed by StMU this season and above their season average of 32%, which ranks first in the LSC. 


IMPACT PLAYERS

• Averee Kleinhans led TWU in scoring with 14 points, shooting 5-of-16 from the field along with four free throws. Kleinhans also led the team in defensive rebounds with nine, and in minutes played, posting 36 minutes on the court for the third time this season. She also dished out five assists in the win. 
• Three Pioneers tallied 12 points in the win, starting with a season high 38 minute effort from Jada Celsur. The senior added a pair of free throws, nine rebounds and four assists to the stat sheet as well.
• Kaylie Morgan is the second to tally 12 points in the win, setting a career high. The junior enjoyed a breakout game tonight, setting a handful of other career high marks including made and attempted field goals (5-for-8), three pointers made (two), and minutes played (32). Morgan also tied career high marks in rebounds (four) and assists (two).
• Rounding out the 12-point scorers, Gabby Elliott helped the Pioneers to the win at the free throw line, making 8-of-12 attempts. Elliott added nine rebounds to the stat sheet, leading the team with five on offense as well.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• Morgan started the scoring for the Pioneers with a trey just 20 seconds into the game, jumpstarting a 9-0 scoring run which ended with the Rattlers first basket to make the score 9-2 midway through the opening period. The first period did not last very long, as only the media timeout stopped play for a period of time en route to the Pioneers 20-9 lead at the final buzzer.
• The Rattlers would become competitive in the second period, opening with a three just nine seconds in to cut the TWU lead to 20-12. Kleinhans kept the double-digit lead afloat, making three straight baskets – the last of which brought the score to 26-14 with just under eight minutes remaining. With the competitive nature of the game turned up in the second, so too were the fouls: STMU recorded five fouls in the midst of a small 4-0 scoring run, ending with a Lumsden three to bring the score to 29-18 with over a minute remaining. The Rattlers made four consecutive free throws in the final minute, but a layup by Morgan off a fast break closed the first half's scoring, and sent the Pioneers to the locker room with a 33-22 lead.
• STMU committed a total of seven fouls in the third period, which the Pioneers took advantage of to the tune of six free throws made on 10 attempts. The Rattlers however clawed their way back and tied the game at 42-all with a buzzer-beating three.
• The fourth period was marked by a gritty and hard-fought effort, with 12 fouls being committed by both teams. The Rattlers committed the most however with eight, which the Pioneers took advantage of again with a 6-for-10 effort at the free throw line. 
• The fourth period scoring began with a Morgan jumper to regain the lead for TWU at 44-42, however STMU would quickly tie then regain the lead. Their lead would never grow beyond four points, and the Pioneers began the work of reclaiming control of the game with an Elliott layup at the 5:10 mark sparking a 7-0 scoring run which proved to be the difference maker; with TWU back up 52-49. STMU would keep it close, but the Pioneers would retain control of the lead until the end, with four consecutive free throws by Kleinhans sealing the 59-53 win.

HEAR FROM AVEREE KLEINHANS 

Click here to listen to a post game interview with Averee Kleinhans. 

NEXT UP

The Pioneers close out the 2025 calendar year with a Saturday afternoon matinee against the Dallas Christian Crusaders at KMA for a 2 p.m. tip off.