The YellowJackets used a 46-28 second half to blow by East Texas Baptist on Thursday night en route to their 10^th win of the season.
 
"The team really stepped up defensively tonight and won the battle of the boards," said head coach Leslie Reinecker. "Although we struggled offensively early, I am happy with how we looked to create fast break opportunities from our defense and then crashed the boards. This really helped us get into our rhythm and get better looks at the basket."
 
LETU improves to 7-4 in the American Southwest Conference behind a career and record breaking night from LaTanya Drakes. The YellowJackets outrebounded the Tigers 58-45 and forced 22 ETBU turnovers. East Texas Baptist falls to 3-15 overall and 1-9 in the ASC.
 
Drakes had yet another double-double performance as she scored 16 points to pair with her career-high and LETU-record 24 rebounds. The senior forward is averaging a double-double at 17.4 ppg and 13.7 rpg and is eighth in NCAA Division III with 247 total rebounds.
 
Crystal Jones had another high-scoring night as she dropped in 22 points, a balanced 11 in each half. Jones also tied a career-high with seven steals. The senior guard was 9-10 from the free throw line and remains the league's leading scorer at 21 points per game. The YellowJackets shot 82.1 percent (23-28) from the charity stripe.
 
Senior Jada Roberts pulled down nine rebounds to go along with seven points for the YellowJackets. Sophomore Jaila Leaven added six points off the bench.
 
LeTourneau started slow as they couldn't find the shooting touch in the first quarter but a Crystal Jones jumper and Jada Roberts three gave the YellowJackets a 14-10 lead at the end of the period.
 
That lead would grow to eight in the second quarter but ETBU would make a run to end the half as they cut the lead to 24-22 at the break.
 
The third quarter was the tipping point as the YellowJackets erupted with 10 unanswered points forcing a Tiger timeout. A LaTanya Drakes layup at the end of the period gave LETU a 44-31 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
 
The LeTourneau lead swelled to as many as 27 in the fourth quarter on a Cashe Ervine free throw.
 
The YellowJackets will be back in Solheim Arena on Saturday as they host Louisiana College at 1 p.m. The Wildcats come in 5-11 overall and have a 4-6 record in the ASC, currently sitting in fourth-place in the East Division behind LETU.