Basketball | 3/12/2026 11:15:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (March 12, 2026) - After an impressive run through the Lone Star Conference Tournament, the Pioneers secured their fourth overall LSC Championship with a 54-46 victory over West Texas A&M at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The title marks the Pioneers' third consecutive conference tournament championship, making them just the second program in Lone Star Conference history to accomplish a three-peat.

TWU finished the tournament run with a 29-1 overall record and a perfect 20-0 mark in conference play, extending its program-record winning streak to 28 games. The Pioneers' defensive effort played a major role in the championship win, collecting 31 defensive rebounds and limiting the Lady Buffs to 28.6% shooting from three-point range. 

This will be the third straight season that the Texas Woman's basketball team has claimed the No.1 Seen in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. The Pioneers are hosting the Regional Tournament from March 13-14, 16 in Kitty Magee Arena. The first game for the Pioneers will be on March 13th at 5 p.m. against the Eighth Seed Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds. 

THE ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS THROUGH KITTY MAGEE

• We hope to see everyone at the South Central Regional Tournament here in Denton!! Come and cheer on our Pioneers!

• You can purchase tickets for each day here. They will be sold online, no cash accepted at the doors. 

• Make sure to follow along with live stats here. 

• Please be advised that we do have a Clear Bag Policy here at Kitty Magee. 

• For the full tournament schedule and other information, please visit the tournament central page here. 

TIP-OFF TIME

• HISTORY: Texas Woman's and Eastern New Mexico have developed a competitive Lone Star Conference matchup in recent seasons, with the Pioneers currently holding the momentum in the series. TWU defeated the Greyhounds 73-61 in the LSC Tournament, advancing to the championship game. The win marked the Pioneers' seventh consecutive victory over ENMU, a streak that dates back to 2020. In the semifinal matchup last week, Gabby Elliott led TWU with 18 points and Madi Lumsden added 15. For Eastern New Mexico, they were led by Aaliyah Smith's 23-point performance, and they were seeking their first LSC Championship appearance since 1993. 

• A LOOK AT THE GREYHOUNDS: The Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds had a strong season, finishing the regular season 19-9 overall and 15-5 in Lonestar Conference play, tying for fourth in the conference standings. The Greyhounds entered the postseason on a seven-game winning streak, earning wins over teams such as UT Dallas, Texas A&M Kingsville, and West Texas A&M. Offensively, Eastern New Mexico averaged around 70 points per game and featured a balance scoring attack with multiple players contributing. Chole Dallas led the team with about 14 points and over seven rebounds per game, shooting more than 50% from the field and recording multiple double-doubles through the season. 

• LSC TOURNAMENT RECAP: The Pioneers opened tournament play with a 69-54 win over UT Permian Basin in the quarterfinal round. TWU controlled the game from the free-throw line, making 26 shots from the charity stripe while dominating the glass with 46 total rebounds. Gabby Elliott led the team with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Jada Celsur added 14 points and Averee Kleinhands chipped in 13. In the semifinal round, TWU defeated Eastern New Mexico 73-61 to advance to the championship game. The Pioneers took control in the middle quarters and sealed the win with a strong fourth-period performance. Elliott once again led the team with 18 points and 12 rebounds, recording her 17th double-double of the season. Madi Lumsden added 15 points, while Kleinhans and Celsure both finished with 11. The championship game saw TWU hold off a persistent West Texas A&M squad for a 54-46 victory. A late 7-0 run by the Pioneers created the separation needed to secure the title. 

-PIONEERS-