DENTON, Texas – Texas A&M International University women's basketball (7-5, 4-2 LSC) opened up the 2020 year on the road and dropped a 70-50 Lone Star Conference decision on Thursday evening to the Texas Woman's Pioneers (5-5, 3-3 LSC). 

In the opening quarter, the Dustdevils registered the first four points of the game as Josselin Geer and Nicole Heyn knocked down back-to-back jump shots, respectively, to give TAMIU an advantage 56 seconds into the game. 

The Pioneers fought back but TAMIU strung together a 7-0 run in a span of 1:20 that featured a shot from long distance by Patrycja Jaworska and was capped off on a jump shot by Eva Langton at the 4:13 mark to give the Dustdevils an 11-7 lead. 

Texas Woman's would go on to score the final four points of the first stanza to knot the game at 11 apiece.

In the second period, the Pioneers built an eight-point advantage (22-14) after compiling an 11-2 scoring spree that was ignited by a Ma'K'La Woods three-point play and was capped off on a jump shot by Woods with 4:52 remaining in the first half. Woods ultimately put together 15 points in the second quarter alone. 

Julynne Da Silva Sa dropped in a layup before Geer added a pair of free throws to slash TAMIU's deficit to five (26-21) with 2:03 showing on the game clock. 

The Pioneers would close out the quarter by scoring the final six points to extend their lead to 11 (32-21) heading into intermission. 

In the third quarter, Christine Ortega scored all eight points of an 8-2 run for the Dustdevils, including a layup and a trio of free throws to bring them within seven (36-29) with 5:38 left in the period.

TWU closed out the third strong as they compiled the last eight points of the quarter to extend their lead to 16 (48-32).

In the last quarter, Amaya Briggs knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to extend Texas Woman's lead to a game-high 26 points (63-37) with 3:32 left to play. 

TAMIU scored the final five points of the game but it would ultimately settle the 70-50 victory for TWU.

Da Silva Sa recorded a team-high 12 points (5-of-9 FG) and Heyn nabbed a game-high three steals.

Woods led all scorers with 18 points (7-of-13 FG) while Carissa Moody finished with a game-high 11 rebounds. 

In the end, Texas A&M International shot 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the field, 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from three-point range and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the free-throw line while the Pioneers shot 57.1 percent (24-of-42) from the floor, 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from beyond the arc and 72 percent (18-of-25) from the charity stripe. The Pioneers held the advantage in rebounds (36-21) and assists (12-5). The Dustdevils led the way in steals (13-7), blocks (1-0).

The Dustdevils continue on the road for a LSC matchup on Saturday, January 4 against Tarleton (8-4, 2-4 LSC) at 2 p.m.