KERRVILLE - The LeTourneau YellowJacket women's basketball team traveled to Kerrville on Friday evening as they took on the Schreiner Moutaineers in American Southwest action. The Jackets used clutch shots in the final five minutes to pick up a huge 61-55 win over Schreiner.
The Jackets showed great mental toughness by not only fighting through a tough finals week, but fighting through a hard stretch in the second half where everything was going Schreiner's way.
Things got off to a fast start as junior Andrea Ashley scored the games first basket to take a 2-0 lead. The Mountaineers (4-6, 1-4 ASC) responded with a 9-0 run to gain momentum on their home court, but LeTourneau got a free throw from sophomore Shi'rrell Williams and two free throws from freshman Ashley Stephens to cut into the lead.
LeTourneau (4-4, 3-2 ASC) continued to fight back and eventually tied the game at 13 as they got great production from Stephens.
As things settled in, the YellowJackets played their game and got out on the break, eventually taking their first lead at 22-20 after a jumper and a free throw from Ashley.
The Jackets used tough defense the rest of the way to take a 30-24 lead at halftime.
LeTourneau extended their lead to 36-24 to start the second half after junior Jessica Manas scored four points and junior Julencia Curtis added a jumper. The Jackets pushed their lead to as many as 13 as they were aggressive in the post.
However, after a basket from freshman Erica Carson at the 14:15 mark of the game, LeTourneau went ice cold, not hitting another jump shot until the 5:03 mark as Schreiner stormed back to take a 45-44 lead.
Junior Alexis Wighaman broke the dry spell with a huge jumper to take the lead back and Ashley followed with another jumper to push the lead to three.
The Mountaineers battled right back though and took the lead again at the 3:10 mark. LeTourneau responded with a jumper and a free throw to take a three point lead, but Schreiner drained a three of their own to tie it at 52.
After the two teams exchanged baskets to tie it up at 54, junior Ashley Fajardo, with the team 0-for-9 from the three point line at this point, stepped back and buried a monumental three-pointer with 53 seconds to go to give LeTourneau a 57-54 lead.
The Jackets used great defense and Manas free throws to ice the game and take the 61-55 victory.
Ashley picked up her third double-double of the season, going for 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead LeTourneau. Stephens was clutch off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds. Manas and Curtis added 10 points each on the night.
LeTourneau improved their shooting percentage, going 46% from the field and outshooting Schreiner 37-30.
The Jackets are back in action tomorrow night as they take on Texas Lutheran in ASC action. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game can be heard live on Strech Internet.
