A 13-2 run to start the second half led visiting Louisiana College to a 75-70 win over host LeTourneau University to spoil the home opener for the YellowJackets.

Louisiana College (5-0, 2-0 ASC) overcame a 35-30 halftime deficit to score 13 of the first 15 points of the second 20 minutes in the win. Wildcats' guard Neka Jones scored five of her 12 points in the spurt for LC. She was joined in double digits by  Danisha Allison, who had a double double (19 points, 13 rebounds), Skylar Chenevert (15 points) and Kaci Willis (11 points).
 
LeTourneau (3-2, 1-1 ASC) stretched a five-point halftime lead to eight, 38-30, in the opening seconds of the second half when sophomore Ashley Reed knocked down a 3 pointer. Reed finished the game with 11 points and was joined in double digits by sophomore Ashley Crockett (15 points), senior Rebecca Stewart (13 points) and junior Kim Wallace – who had her second double double of the young season (10 points and 18 rebounds).
 
"We took a very tough loss tonight against a very experienced Louisiana College team," said head coach Leslie Reinecker. "We did a lot of good things, but just did not take care of some areas that hurt us in the end. I am proud of the improvements we have made each game and we are now focused on getting ready for our next one."
 
Twice, in the first eight minutes, LeTourneau found itself behind nine before an 11-0 run put the host YellowJackets ahead 22-21 with 6:30 to play in the first half. The two teams would be tied on three occasions until a 3 pointer by Stewart with 4:17 left in the first 20 minutes put the home team ahead 29-26.
 
LeTourneau scored six of the final eight points of the first half for a 35-30 halftime lead. At the break, an aggressive LETU defense had held LC to 26.3% shooting and they were shooting 53.6% from the field. Stewart scored nine and Reed added eight to pace the YellowJackets. 22 of the 35 for LETU came in the pant as they held a 22-2 advantage.
 
The Tigers scored the six of the first eight points to start the second half, cutting the LETU lead 38-36 with 18:49 to play. The defense provided a spark when they blocked a LETU shot with 17:38 to play and capitalized on it with a 3 pointer for a 41-40 lead. It was the first lead by LC since the 7:28 mark of the first half.
 
However, LeTourneau did not go away easily. Facing a 54-46 deficit with 10:57 to play, LETU scored six of the next seven points – four of which came from Crockett – to cut the deficit to 55-53 with 9:19 to play. The game remained close and a jumper by the YellowJackets' sophomore Julia Land – with 2:54 to play – cut the LC lead to 66-65 with 2:54 to go. After an exchange baskets by both teams, LeTourneau would get as close as two in the final 1:18 in the loss.
 
Next, the YellowJackets will be idle until Tuesday, December 16^th when they face local rival UT Tyler at 5:30 p.m. in Solheim Arena.