FORT WORTH, TX - Texas Wesleyan Women's Basketball (9-4, 4-2 SAC) clamped down on the Southwestern Christian Eagles (10-3, 3-3 SAC) in the third quarter, out-scoring them 17-6 to pull ahead, keep the lead and earn a 82-77 win. The victory lifts the Lady Rams into fourth place in the conference, breaking the original tie with SCU.

The difference in the game were the giveaways from Southwestern Christian and how TXWES turned them into opportunities. Thursday night against SAGU, the Eagles turned the ball over 33 times in a loss and weren't much better on the floor of the Sid Richardson Center Saturday. 22 turnovers resulted in 26 points off turnovers for Texas Wesleyan, the majority of which were easy lay-ups on the fast break. The Lady Rams out-scored the Eagles 18-4 on the break, including a 8-2 difference in the fourth quarter when Texas Wesleyan began to pull away.

TXWES also got 42 points from it's bench, including 19 of the team's 24 fourth-quarter points. Makayla Coy scored 17 points in 25 minutes on 6-of-11 shooting. She had some trouble finding her way on the floor against the much smaller Eagles' lineup, but once the freshman found her spots, she dominated. Hailee Walls earned 14 points, hitting a couple of threes while earning plenty of opportunities at the foul line (4-of-5). Alexus Brigham added 11 points, four rebounds and three steals.

Nicole Gleason's defense was infectious. She earned five steals, which she's done four times now in the last two seasons. She rested just one minute, hitting 7-of-15 shots. She's found other ways to contribute despite her deep ball not falling (4-of-25 in the last three games). But in her previous three games, Gleason hit 12-of-26 from beyond the arc and her ability to get hot at any time keeps her dangerous in all phases. She's still 14th in the NAIA in three-pointers made per game (2.8) and 26th in three-pointers made (37). The Lady Rams will need that shot Thursday night when (RV) MACU comes to town. The Evangels are the only team ahead in the standings that the Lady Rams haven't faced yet and TXWES will be looking for a statement win. Tip-off will be at 6 p.m.

Evie Whorley had team highs in rebounds (six) and assists (five) against SCU. Destiney Winkfield chipped in 11 points in 23 minutes.

TXWES has scored over 80 points in three of its last five games and when the offense is clicking, the Rams are winning, not getting into a ton of shootouts instead relying on lockdown defense. Dating back to the 2017-18 season, the Lady Rams have won seven-straight games when scoring over 80.