LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket women's basketball team was back in action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed in the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets in ASC play. Fresh off an impressive win over Sul Ross, the Jackets were determined to keep the momentum going into this game, but a poor shooting performance, especially in the second half, doomed LeTourneau as Howard Payne used a furious second half rally to win 82-64.
Howard Payne (5-1, 3-1 ASC) started quick, taking a early 6-1 lead before the Jackets responded with a jumpshot from freshman Erica Carson and a three pointer from freshman Laura Driskell to tie the game at six in the first four minutes of the game.
The two teams traded buckets for a few possession until Yellow Jackets went on a 10-0 to take a 22-12 lead over LeTourneau (3-4, 2-2 ASC). The Jackets scratched and clawed their way back into the game in the first half as they made it four point game with four and half minutes to go in the half after a layup from junior Julencia Curtis.
However, Howard Payne pushed their lead forward and took a 37-30 lead into the break.
LeTourneau came out and scored on their opening possession thanks to a jumper from Curtis and followed that up wtih another score from junior Andrea Ashley.
But the Yellow Jackets responded in a grand fashion, going on a 25-3 run throughout the first part of the second half to pull away from LeTourneau. The Jackets continued to fight and tried to mount some sort of comeback, but it was too much Howard Payne in the end as they took the road victory.
Curtis put together another great game, scoring 14 points to go with five rebounds while Ashley scored 12 points on the afternoon. Junior Ashley Fajardo picked up six rebounds, five assists, and three steals and junior Alexis Wigmaham had two blocked shots.
LeTourneau struggled from the field, shooting only 34% and was even worse from the three-point line, shooting 17%. The Jackets also lost the turnover battle, 29-27, but did win the rebounding battle, 39-36.
The Jackets will be back action the following Friday as they travel to Kerrville, Texas to take on Schreiner University in ASC action. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
