BELTON - The LeTourneau YellowJacket women's basketball team was back in action on Saturday night as they took on the Mary Hardin-Baylor Cru in ASC action. After a tough setback to Concordia two nights ago, the YellowJackets used a terrific comeback and some clutch plays to take a huge road victory, 72-69, and pick up their first ASC win of the season.
It was all Cru (1-4, 0-1 ASC) early on as they jumped out to a 14-2 lead and seemed like they were in complete control. LeTourneau settled in and responded with a three pointer from freshman Kaley Green and got baskets from junior Ashley Fajardo, junior Alexis Wighaman, and junior Andrea Ashley to make it a 16-11 game.
After trading baskets, the Jackets (2-2, 1-1 ASC) got a three pointer from junior Jessica Manas to make it a four point deficit with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
LeTourneau continued to chip away as the game was set to go to half with the Jackets only down two. Mary Hardin-Baylor hit a basket to extend their lead to four with 14 seconds remaining; however, the Cru got the ball back quickly and buried a three off the backboard at the buzzer to take a 33-26 lead at half.
The YellowJackets came out strong in the second half as they cut the deficit down to three early on, but Mary Hardin-Baylor went on a 9-0 run to take a 42-31 lead with 13:45 remaining in the first half.
But the resilient Jackets were not going down easily as they hit five straight three pointers, two from Fajardo, two from sophomore Shi'rrell Williams, and one from Manas as LeTourneau trailed 49-46. The Cru responded right back and increased their lead to 10 with 8:08 remaining.
LeTourneau clamped down on defense and continued to hit big shots, this time coming from junior Julencia Curtis, freshman Erica Carson, and a three-pointer from freshman Laura Driskell.
Carson put the Jackets ahead 60-59 with a pair of free throws. The two teams traded buckets and free throws before a three pointer from Kourtney Bevers gave the Cru a 67-64 lead with 1:27 remaining.
The two teams traded baskets as UMHB held onto the 69-66 lead. Ashley then took a pass at the top of the arch from Manas and drained a three pointer to tie the game.
The Jackets then played phenomenal defense as they forced a turnover and was fouled immediately. That sent Williams to the line who made 1-of-2 to give LeTourneau a 70-69 lead with eight seconds remaining.
The defense stepped up again as Curtis stepped in front of a pass for a turnover and was fouled with one second left. She made both of her free throws to give LeTourneau the 72-69 win.
Manas and Fajardo led the way with 15 points each while Manas added six rebounds and five assists. Ashley had nine points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Curtis picked up two blocks to go along with six points and five rebounds.
The Jackets made 10 three pointers, which proved to be the key stat on the evening. LeTourneau was outrebounded 61-40 and lost the turnover battle 24-21.
The Jackets will take the day off before taking to the road again on Monday evening as they will take on the Centenary Ladies in non-conference action. Tipoff is set for 5:30 from Shreveport.
