DENTON, Texas (Jan. 10, 2026) – Texas Woman's basketball continues rolling on, now on a 12-game win streak and winner of all seven Lone Star Conference contests with a 79-64 win over Western New Mexico today at Kitty Magee Arena.

WNMU (0-13, 0-7) gave TWU (13-1, 7-0) a tough test early on, as the Mustangs trailed the third-ranked Pioneers by one point entering the second period. The game did begin to open up more in TWU's favor by the end of the second and became more in control in the third period by opening up a 20-point lead.

The Pioneers continued their strong defensive streak, holding the Mustangs to just eight points in the second quarter. It marked TWU's 15th quarter this season holding their opponent to less than 10 points in a quarter. 

On their way to the double-digit win, the Pioneers bench proved to be the difference maker, as they scored 42 points – a season high for TWU. Avery McConnell led the bench scoring with 11 points. 

With the win, the Pioneers improve their streak against WNMU to five in a row, and remain tied for tops in the LSC. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Averee Kleinhans led the Pioneers with 16 points in the win, shooting 6-for-11 from the field, making 2-of-3 trey attempts and sinking both free throw attempts. Kleinhans also tallied five rebounds, all defensively.
• Avery McConnell tallied 11 points during 27 minutes of on-court time – matching her season-high mark. The junior made her only three-point attempt, as well as drained both free throw attempts and added four rebounds. 
• Julie Kasonga added 10 points to the Pioneers total today, her second game this season with double-digit points. The freshman shot 5-for-6 from the field, added four rebounds and tallied her second steal of the season as well.
• Hadyn Collie also recorded 10 points in the win – her second game with double-digit scoring. The senior shot 5-for-6 from the field and tallied six rebounds.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• The game's first basket went to the Mustangs, as a three put the Pioneers in an early 3-0 hole, however TWU – specifically Kleinhans – would methodically respond with a pair of free throws and a trey to gain their first lead at 5-3 at the 8:22 mark–a lead the home team would control for the remainder of the game. WNMU kept the margin razor-thin in the opening period however, as a pair of made free throws brought the score to 18-17 Pioneers entering the second.
• The second period opened with TWU's first scoring run of note, as a 7-0 scoring run lasting through the first four and a half minutes improved their lead to 25-17. McConnell's only three of the game was scored near the period's midway point, giving the Pioneers their first double-digit lead of the game at 30-20. After a free throw momentarily dropped the lead down to nine, a McConnell jumper jumped the lead back to 11 at 32-21, and the margin would remain at double-digits for the remainder of the period with the Pioneers taking a 41-25 lead to the half.
• After a pair of Mustangs free throws opened up the third period, the Pioneers responded with another 7-0 scoring run beginning with a pair of Kleinhans' layups and ending with a 48-27 lead – TWU's first 20-point lead in the game. The third period would end in a flourish in the form of a 13-2 scoring run, with the final scoring play – a Jaylee Moss three – bringing the score to 66-41 entering the final period of play.
• Despite the Mustangs outscoring the Pioneers 23-13 in the fourth period, including a pair of threes to begin the final period of play. TWU remained in control of the game by double-digits with a six-point period by Collie leading the way. The Pioneers eventually took the game by a 15-point margin with the 79-64 final score.

HEAR FROM SENIOR AVEREE KLEINHANS AFTER THE WIN
Averee Kleinhans shares her thoughts after the Pioneers win: https://youtu.be/jyaCGCt5wFQ.

NEXT UP

The Pioneers are back on the road for a two-game swing, beginning in San Antonio on Thursday evening for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the St. Mary's Rattlers.