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TWU
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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 3/3/06
PIONEERS’ SEASON ENDS IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
CANYON, Texas – With an uncharacteristic offensive outing, the Texas Woman’s University season ended with a 75-55 loss to Angelo State in the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Championship Tournament at the First United Bank Center on the campus of West Texas A&M.
The Pioneers (14-14, 6-8) wrapped up its best overall season in 16 years in head coach Rene Hanebutt’s first season at the helm.
“I am proud for the kids. They did things nobody thought we would,” Hanebutt said. “This is a step in the right direction. I am really proud of what we accomplished this year. The seniors, Courtney and Ashley, were fantastic.”
The Rambelles (22-7) advance to the Championship game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. against WTAMU. In the first semifinal game, WTAMU, the top seed from the South, defeated the second seed from the North, Texas A&M-Commerce, 64-58 in a game that was close until the final buzzer.
The Pioneers offensive power came from Margaret Wimbish and Ashley Browning. Wimbish started the scoring with an early three-pointer at the 18:23 mark. Browning kept the Pioneers within striking distance with 14 points including four three’s in the first half.
Down by 10 at intermission, TWU pulled within eight points on two occasions before ASU pulled away. The Rambelles continued to extend the lead to beat the Pioneers for the third time this season.
“I think it was a game where one team had experience and one team did not,” Hanebutt said. “At the conference tournament you have to play at the next level. We did in the first round and needed to come out and do it again. ASU goes deep in the tournament every year. We didn’t understand the importance of making every play.”
The Pioneers continued to shoot well from long distance but for a team that leads the LSC in free throw percentage, TWU struggled from the charity stripe. TWU was 19 of 53 (35.8 percent) from the field and eight of 17 (47.1 percent) from the line.
Browning ended her Pioneer career with a game-high 20 points. Wimbish posted her tenth double-double of the year with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
“It was a learning experience for me and the team. There are things that you would do over and do again,” Hanebutt added. “TWU is a young and upcoming program. Ending the season at the tournament is great. I couldn’t be prouder and have asked to be around a better group.”
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