The LeTourneau University women's basketball team extended its winning streak to five games with an all-around team win with a 70-56 victory over Belhaven on Thursday night in Longview. The five-game winning streak is unchartered territory for the YellowJackets since they joined NCAA Division III.

The YellowJackets (12-6) returned home after a seven-game road trip to an energetic Solheim Arena crowd. LETU junior Crystal Jones had a game-high 19 points to lead a LETU team that utilized 15 players in the win. It is the 17^th time in 18 games that Jones has been in double figures. Also in double figures was junior LaTanya Drakes, who nearly had her seventh double double with a 10 point, 9-rebound effort.

The Blazers (6-10) was led by Sierra Pittman, who had a game-high 23 points for Belhaven, who lost its fourth-straight game. Pittman was joined in double figures by Candler Gregory, who added 10 points.

After Tamora Shelton made one of two free throws in the opening seconds for the visitors, LeTourneau led for the rest of the contest after Jones made a 3-pointer for the early 3-1 lead.

"I am proud of our team for taking control of the game early and protecting our house, tonight," said LETU head coach Leslie Reinecker. "We were able to utilize our depth and the players stepped in and contributed what we needed to get the win."

Belhaven cut the deficit to eight earlier into the third quarter until a decisive spurt that saw the YellowJackets score 15 of the final 21 points in the second quarter for a 46-29 halftime lead. In four of the five games in the winning streak, LETU has been leading at the half.

The YellowJackets went into the halftime break shooting 55.9% (19-for-34) from the field and holding Belhaven to 37.9% (11-for-29). A key contribution for LETU was its bench, who outscored its Blazers counterparts by a 24-3 margin in the first 20 minutes. The 24 points by the YellowJackets' reserves was a season-high. The Blazers got within seven, 60-53, in the fourth quarter before the YellowJackets scored 10 of the final 13 points to end the comeback hopes for the Blazers. Eight of the 10 came from Jones for the YellowJackets.

Next, LeTourneau will return to road for its next two games to face East Texas Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. and Louisiana College on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. The YellowJackets have won six of its last seven true road games.