On Jan. 31, in an exciting overtime match on the road, Texas Woman’s Basketball beat West Texas A&M with a final score of 78-74. No. 3 TWU taking the victory over N0. 5 WT gives WT their second loss of the season, first loss in conference and only loss at home. This leaves the Pioneers alone at the top of the Lone Star Conference with a conference record of 12-0.
The team relied heavily on Senior Averee Kleinhans, who set her career high of 38 points, also achieving seven rebounds, two steals and two assists.
“I’m extremely grateful that my teammates and coaches trust me to take the shots I took and to make the plays I made, in every game, but especially this one,” Kleinhans said.
As they head into a big game that sets the tone for the rest of the season, players learn to rely on one another, drawing on months of strength training, conditioning, and on-court practice to be ready for moments like this.
“I know a lot of the girls were pretty nervous, anxious, and excited to play, and I was too, but when you step on the court, it’s crunch time and everything you’ve practiced, all your habits, discipline, everything comes to light and gets to shine in these tight games,” Kleinhans said.
The Pioneers continue their season with an overall record of 18-1. They aspire to continue their hard work through the conference and into postseason tournaments.
“We definitely want to finish conference play strong, aiming for undefeated when we hit the conference tournament,” Kleinhans said.
Now, as the Pioneers sit in first place of The Lonestar Conference, they will need to be more focused than ever.
“Sticking to our game plans, trusting each other, disciplining ourselves with what we fuel our bodies with, how we recover, and practicing hard are some ways we will achieve our goals,” she said.
The next time you have the chance to see them in action is Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6:00 pm at Pioneer Hall. They will face off against Oklahoma Christian. It is also the Play4Kay game, where the team will honor people, specifically women, who are battling cancer. Make sure to show up, wear pink and support the team as they compete for a cause greater than the game.
Bird Moffitt can be contacted via email at bmoffitt@twu.edu
Image Credit – Dr. Kyle Biggerstaff, TWU Athletics
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