The LeTourneau University women hadn't beat the Patriots since 2012. A January 9^th, 2012, 73-70 win was the only time the YellowJackets had taken down UT Tyler. That changed on Monday afternoon as hot shooting and great team play helped LETU earn the win over a highly touted Tyler team ranked 21st in the nation. The YellowJackets assisted on 18 of their 30 field goals and caused 13 turnovers.
 
The YellowJackets (5-5, 4-1 ASC) outscored the Patriots by 21 in the second half and handed Tyler their third loss of the season as they fall to 8-3 overall and 2-3 in the ASC. UTT started the season with a No. 3 ranking in the preseason NCAA Division III polls after returning the core of a team that made an Elite 8 run last season.
 
"I'm so proud of the game our team put together today against a very strong UT Tyler team," said head coach Leslie Reinecker. "We knew it was going to take a total team effort and our players stepped up to the challenge together. We stayed composed and fought back coming out of halftime. Once again, I am very pleased with our composure down the stretch to secure the win."
 
Crystal Jones was the catalyst to the LeTourneau victory as she scored 28 points. The senior guard only had eight points at the halftime break but was 7 of 13 from the field in the final 20 minutes to lead the YellowJackets. Jones added five rebounds, three assists and six steals in her 37 minutes.
 
Bria Goodman scored eight of her season-high 16 points in the third quarter to spark a LETU comeback as they trailed by 11 at the half. Goodman was 5 of 7 from the floor and hit two three-point field goals to start a third quarter comeback.
 
LaTanya Drakes aka "Ms. Double-Double" notched yet another giant performance as she scored 17 points to go along with 16 rebounds. The senior forward had a monster second half with 13 points and 13 boards. This was the seventh double-double effort for Drakes in just nine games.
 
LeTourneau jumped out to an early seven-point lead punctuated by a Shaquicia Johnson jumper in the paint. Johnson finished with seven points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.
 
The Patriots responded with a 14-3 run to end the period to take the lead 17-21. UT Tyler's lead would swell to as many as 15 in the second quarter and after a pair of Ashley Crockett free-throws, LETU trailed by 11 at the half.
 
The third quarter was once again the difference for LeTourneau as they got a big spark from Goodman and Jones and went on a 12-1 run to cut the lead to two going into the final period.
 
A steal by Johnson led to a Crystal Jones fast break layup with 5:04 remaining to give the YellowJackets their first lead since the 2:01 mark of the first quarter. LETU would go on a six-point run after the media timeout and push the lead to 72-65.
 
Bria Goodman and LaTanya Drakes knocked down clutch free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory and give LeTourneau their fourth conference win going into the Christmas break.
 
The YellowJackets will host the LETU Holiday Classic on December 29^th and 30^th with games against Schreiner and Texas Lutheran. Tip-off for both games will be at 4 p.m at Solheim Arena.