DENTON, Texas (March 1, 2026) - Texas Woman's basketball closed out the regular season on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day at Kitty Magee Arena, and did not close out the winning, defeating the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas 57-43 to wrap up the first undefeated conference season in program history, two days after clinching their fourth straight Lone Star Conference title.
Unlike the previous meeting on Dec. 4, TWU (26-1, 20-0) jumped out to a hot start, outscoring TAMUK (5-21, 5-15) 12-5 in the opening period, eventually taking a 31-14 lead into the half. The Javelinas turned up the heat in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 17-14 in the third; however, the defense was up to the task in securing the double-digit win.
TWU shot a season-low 34% from the field, but bested its opponent in this stat, with the Javelinas shooting 30%. The Pioneers swarmed on defense, however, collecting the most defensive rebounds by TAMUK opponents with 30.
The win is the Pioneers' 10th in a row against the Javelinas and concludes the regular season with a 26-1 record and the program's first undefeated LSC season, winning all 20 conference matchups.
IMPACT PLAYERS
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Gabby Elliott led the team in scoring with 26 points, one shy of her season best. The senior matched season bests in both shots made and attempted from the field, going 11-for-18, and was 4-for-7 at the free-throw line. Elliott added 10 rebounds as well, five each on offense and defense.
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Jaylee Moss tallied eight points in the win, making two of four attempts from beyond the arc, the eighth game this season with at least 50% accuracy.
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Madi Lumsden recorded six points in the contest, along with eight total rebounds for a new season best. The junior added three assists on offense as well.
PIONEER POWER MOMENTS
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The opening period began with a defensive struggle, broken at the 7:09 mark with a trey by Jada Celsur. The next two baskets belonged to the Javelinas to take a 4-3 lead with under six minutes remaining, the first time the Pioneers trailed an opponent since Feb. 5. The deficit was short-lived, however, as an Elliott layup and Celsur jumper regained the lead to make the score 7-4 with 3:44 remaining. The last two baskets were scored by Moss, as a trey and jumper brought the score to 12-5 at the end of the first.
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The second period's early defensive battle was also broken with a 3-pointer inside the third minute of play, but by TAMUK to bring its deficit to four. A 6-0 run beginning with a pair of Elliott free throws established TWU's first double-digit lead of the game, bringing the score to 22-10 with 4:43 on the clock. The Pioneers put together a second 6-0 run in this period to close out the first half's scoring, taking a 31-14 lead to halftime.
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The third period featured more back-and-forth action, with neither team scoring more than four consecutive points until the Javelinas rattled off a nine-point rally beginning with 3:44 on the clock. An Elliott free throw closed the period's scoring, with the Pioneers taking a double-digit lead to the final period of play regardless, at 45-31.
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The fourth period was closely contested throughout, with four straight points by the Pioneers being the most consecutive by either team in the final frame. Six of TWU's 12 points in this period were at the free-throw line, with Elliott jumpers accounting for the other six, the last of these closing the scoring with 35 seconds remaining to secure the 57-43 win.
HEAR FROM JAYLEE MOSS
NEXT UP
Postseason play begins for TWU as they open the Lone Star Conference tournament on Friday, March 6, taking on the UT Permian Basin Falcons for a 6 p.m. tipoff. The Pioneers enter the LSC tournament as the No. 1 seed.
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