The YellowJackets got big performances from the senior duo of LaTanya Drakes and Crystal Jones as they each had memorable nights in Pineville on Thursday as they evened the season series with the Wildcats in a 79-71 victory.
 
LeTourneau improves to 11-10 overall and 8-5 in conference play. With four games remaining in the regular season, the YellowJackets are currently ranked third in the ASC East Division and were able to put much needed distance between Louisiana College who sits in fourth.

 

LaTanya Drakes had another double-double performance as she scored 24 points and pulled down 24 rebounds. One of those rebounds was more memorable than the rest. As Drakes pulled down a defensive rebound with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter, she recorded her 500^th career rebound as a YellowJacket. The Gardena, California native now has 508 career rebounds and is seventh all-time in LeTourneau's history.


Not to be outdone, Crystal Jones passed her own career milestone as she sank a basket at the 4:55 mark of the second quarter and tallied her 1,000^th career point as a YellowJacket. Jones scored a game-high 31 points in the win as she shot 13-23 from the floor. The Western Hills High School product has now scored 1,025 points and now ranks seventh all-time in LeTourneau's history.

 
Jada Roberts pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds to help boost the YellowJackets past Louisiana College. Senior Ashley Crockett contributed a season-high nine points to pair with seven rebounds.

"We really had to dig deep and play as a team tonight to get the win," said head coach Leslie Reinecker. "We had several players step up for us and the team did a great job of battling through adversity. We controlled the boards, made defensive stops, and made some key plays on the offensive end to secure the win on the road."

LETU had a season-high 64 rebounds as a team, the most since the 2007-08 season in a LeTourneau win over Huntingdon.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 15-7 lead but that wouldn't last for long as LeTourneau stormed back with an 11-1 run to end the first quarter and taking their first lead of the game at 18-16. The first half lead would grow to six in the final seconds as Jones got an assist from Roberts to give LETU a 34-28 lead at the break.
 
After a back-and-forth start, the YellowJackets pushed their lead to 15 at the 3:34 mark, the largest lead of the game for LETU. In the fourth quarter, LeTourneau knocked down free throws at crunch time to seal the victory on the road.
 
LETU will continue their road trip on Saturday as they take on East Texas Baptist in Marshall. The YellowJackets defeated the Tigers 70-50 in the first matchup in Longview. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. from Ornleas Gym.