FRISCO, Texas (March 8, 2026) - Facing the team that played them to the second-smallest margin in Lone Star Conference play this season, Texas Woman's basketball was more than capable of handling the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in the second round of the LSC Tournament, advancing to the championship game with a 73-61 win at Frisco's Comerica Center.

Following a tie game at the end of the first period, TWU (28-1, 20-0) gained the edge over ENMU (20-10, 15-5) in the next two periods to establish control, with a 22-point showing in the final period leading to a 12-point win.

The Pioneers continued their efficiency at the free-throw line, sinking 23 of 28 attempts — the third time this season with at least 20 made shots from the charity stripe, and the second of the postseason.

The win is TWU's seventh in a row against the Greyhounds, and the first postseason win in series history. The Pioneers have also tied the program record for consecutive wins with 27.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Gabby Elliott led the team in scoring with 18 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the field and sinking both free-throw attempts. Elliott also led the team with 12 total rebounds, recording her 17th double-double of the season.

• Madi Lumsden added 15 points in the win, shooting 50% from the field and sinking all six free-throw attempts to set a new season best for free throws made. The six made shots were the highest total among the 14 games this season in which she has shot 100% from the free-throw line.

• Averee Kleinhans added 11 points, including five of six from the free-throw line. The senior added four total rebounds as well, with three coming on defense.

• Jada Celsur added 11 points in the win as well, including a trey and four of five made free throws. Defensively, Celsur recorded four steals, matching her season-high mark for the third time.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• The game's first basket went to the Greyhounds, but TWU responded by taking its first lead with a Lumsden jumper and a Kleinhans free throw, making the score 3-2 about 90 seconds in. Four more lead changes followed, with the last going to the Pioneers on three consecutive Lumsden free throws. An ENMU jumper in the final 30 seconds tied the game at 10-all entering the second period.

• The second period began with a Kleinhans tip-in to restore the TWU lead at 12-10, but after the Greyhounds retook the lead, the Pioneers played most of the period trailing, though not by more than three points. A key 6-0 run beginning with a Celsur trey brought the lead back to TWU, as well as new life. A pair of baskets by Julie Kasonga closed the first half's scoring, with the Pioneers entering the half with their largest lead of the game to that point, up seven at 29-22.

• An Elliott jumper extended the TWU lead to nine to open the third period, but a 7-0 run by ENMU brought the margin back down, with the Greyhounds trailing by two at 31-29 with 7:15 on the clock. More back-and-forth scoring followed until the Pioneers opened a 13-2 run to gain their first double-digit lead of the game, going up 45-33 with under three minutes to play. The Greyhounds scored on a jumper with nine seconds remaining, but Kasonga ran the length of the court in seven seconds to score the period's final basket with two seconds left, bringing the score to 51-39 Pioneers heading into the final period.

• The Greyhounds continued to fight in the fourth period, clawing their way up the scoreboard and bringing the Pioneers' lead down to six at one point. A 10-0 run by TWU, with six of those points coming from the free-throw line, reestablished control of the game and built a 16-point lead at 67-51 with 2:45 remaining. A free throw by Avery McConnell closed the game's scoring and secured the 73-61 win.

NEXT UP
The Pioneers advance to the LSC Championship game, looking to complete the three-peat against the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs, the only other team in LSC history to accomplish the feat. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Comerica Center.

-PIONEERS-