Back-to-back 3-pointers by LeTourneau University junior
Ashley Reed (pictured) propelled the YellowJackets to a 65-55 win over host Hardin-Simmons on Saturday in Abilene.
Facing a 55-53 deficit with 2:37 to go in the fourth period, Reed hit the first of two 3-pointers off a pass from junior
Jada Roberts for the first LETU lead since the opening minute of the game. Next, after a defensive rebound by senior
Ashley Stephens, once again Roberts found Reed for a 3 pointer that stretched the margin to four, 59-56 with 1:52 to go. LeTourneau remained in front for the rest of the contest.
In the win, LeTourneau closed out the third period with a 10-0 run and outscored Hardin-Simmons, 28-12 in the final period. In the fourth period, LETU outscored Hardin-Simmons, 9-0 on points off turnovers and 10-0 on bench points en route to the win. Defensively for the game, LeTourneau held Hardin-Simmons to 36.8% (21-for-57) shooting from the field.
"I am very proud of this team for battling tonight against a very disciplined Hardin-Simmons team," said LETU head coach
Leslie Reinecker. "We got contributions from a lot of players to get within striking distance. Then,
Ashley Reed came up big with a couple of 3's to take the lead. From that point, our team managed the game very well to come out with the win."
LeTourneau closed out the game on a 13-0 run for the victory. Plus, with the win, LETU extends its winning streak to five games for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign. The YellowJackets are now 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the American Southwest Conference; whereas, the Cowgirls fall to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the ASC. It is the first time in program history that LETU has started American Southwest Conference play with a 3-0 mark.
Reed finished the contest with 11 points to go along with two assists and four steals in the win for LETU. She was joined in double figures by juniors
LaTanya Drakes (12 points),
Bria Goodman (10 points) and the double double performance by Stephens (10 points, 10 rebounds). The YellowJackets also picked up contributions from Roberts, who nearly had a double double with nine assists and 10 rebounds as well as junior
Ashley Crockett, who had five points and eight rebounds.
Hardin-Simmons also had four players in double figures, including Addison Garcia, who had a game-high 13 points. She was joined by Taylor Klement and Danie Mabry, who each added 12 and Kayla Brown, who scored 10.
Next, the YellowJackets will return home to face No. 12 UT Tyler on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at Solheim Arena.
