LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJackets returned to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed in the Ozarks Eagles to Solheim Arena. After a huge upset win over Texas-Dallas, the Jackets could not gardner any momentum as they fell short to the Eagles, falling 57-52.
It was a dreadful start for LeTourneau (7-12, 4-9 ASC) in the first nine minutes of the game as the Ozarks (10-9, 6-7 ASC) opened up an 18-2 lead thanks to numerous turnovers by the Jackets and an 0-for-10 start from the field. The only points came from a pair of free throws by junior Andrea Ashley.
The Jackets finally ended their cold spell from the field as freshman Kaley Green hit a jumper folowed by a layup from Ashley and a three from Green to make it a 22-9 game. LeTourneau continued to chip away as they got contributions from freshman Ashley Stephens, junior Jessica Manas and great work in the post by Ashley to make it a 10 point game with 2:27 to go before the break.
The Jackets got the final four points of the half off of jumpers from junior Julencia Curtis and sophomore Shi'rrell Williams to cut the deficit down to 30-24 at halftime.
The two teams exchanged buckets to start the half followed by a layup from Stephens and free throw from Ashley to make it a three point game. However, an 8-0 run by the Eagles pushed their lead back out to 40-29 with 13:01 to go.
LeTourneau fought back thanks to a layup from Williams and a pair of jumpers from junior Alexis Wighaman. After a free throw from Ashley made it an eight point game, freshman Alyson Duplantis buried a three to cut the deficit to five.
The Jackets got it down to three thanks to another layup from Williams and a free throw from Curtis, but the Ozarks pushed it back out to seven with 3:41 remaining in the game. The score remained the same with 2:30 to go, but a layup from Ashley and a three from Manas cut the deficit to two with 27 ticks on the clock.
However, LeTourneau could not take advantage of the opportunity and fell thanks to free throws, 57-52.
Ashley came away with a double-double, going for 12 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals while Manas added 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Williams chipped in seven points off the bench.
LeTourneau did well holding on to the ball, only turning it over 13 times, but struggled from the field, shooting only 32%.
The Jackets will be back on the road Thursday as they travel to Clinton, Miss. to take on the Mississippi College Choctaws for the second time. The Choctaws defeated the Jackets in Longview in their first matchup, 64-42. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and all the action can be heard on Stretch Internet.
