LAREDO, Texas (Dec. 9, 2025) – The Texas Woman's basketball team continued their winning ways on Saturday afternoon, as they defeated Texas A&M International, 71-55.

TWU (7-1, 2-0) has now won six games in a row and are a perfect 5-0 on the road, after defeating TAMIU (2-4, 1-1). It also marked the eighth straight win all-time for the Pioneers against the Dustdevils.

The Pioneers opened up the game with a 24-point first quarter to set the tone across the 40 minutes and kept their foot on the gas from there. On their way to the 16-point victory, TWU dished out a season high 19 assists.

While the Pioneers were sharing the wealth, they paired their efficient offense with lockdown defense. They hold TAMIU to their lowest field goal percentage of the season, .290 and tied for lowest number of assists this season at five.

With the opening of LSC play for all teams last week, five teams joined TWU in opening their season 2-0 in LSC action: Lubbock Christian, St. Mary's, West Texas A&M, St. Edward's and Eastern New Mexico.

KEY PLAYERS

• Averee Kleinhans led the Pioneers with a season high 20 points on 8-of-11 from the field and 3-4 from the three point line. She also dished out five assists and grabbed nine rebounds.
• Madi Lumsden scored in double-digits for the fourth straight contest, contributing 16 points in the win on 6-of-8 from the field. She also grabbed two steals.
• Jada Celsur joined Kleinhans and Lumsden in double-digits with 15 points. She grabbed five rebounds and five steals, while also dishing out a season high five assists.
• Gabby Elliott rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Pioneers with 12 points on 6-10 from the field. She also grabbed 11 rebounds to record her third double-double of the season. She was a force on defense, finishing the game with a career high five blocks. Elliott additionally matched her career high with four assists.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• After opening the game trading buckets, the Pioneers quickly pushed out to a nine-point advantage, 12-3, after a 10-0 run, which was ignited off a jumper by Kleinhans. The Pioneers found their first double-digit lead of the night off a fast break layup by Lumsden to go up by 11, 16-5. TWU continued to push the pace and led by as much as 13, 20-7, in the quarter with 1:46 remaining, following a made basket by Elliott.
• On a final fast break, Celsur was able to get all the way to the hoop and score a last second layup to send TWU into the second quarter ahead by 11, 24-13.
• TWU would maintain their double-digit lead throughout the entirety of the second quarter, as they outscored the Dustdevils 19-12. The Pioneers defense was able to hold TAMIU to multiple scoring droughts, which aided them in taking an 18-point advantage into the halftime break, 43-25.
• In the third quarter, a layup by Celsur off the assist by Kleinhans would push TWU to their first 20-point lead of the afternoon, 47-27. The Pioneers would lead by as much as 25 in the quarter - at the 4:03 mark and 2:08 mark.
• With a 20-point advantage, 40-20, the Pioneers maintained their lead in the fourth quarter. A jumper by Kaylie Morgan at 3:16 pushed TWU back to their largest lead of the day at 25, 69-44. The Dustdevils would close the game with four unanswered points, which was not enough to break into the strong Pioneers' lead. TWU would win the game, 71-55.

NEXT UP

The Pioneers will return home for a conference contest against St. Mary's on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. TWU will be hosting Denton ISD. All Denton ISD students and staff can show their student ID or wear a school t-shirt to receive free admission for them and their families.