LONGVIEW, Texas Leading for nearly 32 minutes of the game, the LeTourneau University women's basketball team was able to hold off a late Millsaps College rally to claim a 54-51 in their second consecutive non-conference matchup on Saturday, December 29th.

With the win, the YellowJackets improve to 3-9 overall while the Majors fall to 9-2 overall.

"It was a solid team effort to grind this win out against a very good Millsaps team" said head coach Cassi Rozanski in a post-game interview. "I think the game is a glimpse of what we can be when we play hard, smart and together!" "We have to build on this moving forward but I'm proud of our girls and the way that they competed today."

How it Happened:

• Finding a pair of open layups, the Majors jumped to a quick 4-0 lead to start the first quarter. The Yellowjackets were able to score four straight points from Keauna Whitfield who evened the score at 6-6 with 5:50 left in the first period.
• Deadlocked again at eight, the LETU established their offense to end the quarter with layups from Faith Hudson and Whitfield to give them a 12-8 lead heading to the second quarter.
• Millsaps would be the first to get on the board in the second quarter eventually tying the contest at 14 before seeing the YellowJackets answer with a Claudia Moonsammy triple.
• Momentum on both the offensive and defensive side for LeTourneau would continue for the duration of the first half as the YellowJackets grabbed a 22-15 halftime lead.
• It would once again be Millsaps who would strike first to start the third quarter but a strong offensive output from LETU would result in the biggest lead of the game for the YellowJackets when a layup from Whitfield with 5:10 left to play made it 31-21 in favor of LeTourneau.
• The Majors showed some life late in the third as they managed to close within four points before facing a six-point deficit after three quarters of play.
• Back to back 5-0 runs by both teams to start the fourth quarter left the score at 47-39 in favor of the YellowJackets which would set the tone heading into the final minutes of the game.
• The Majors weren't ready to go down without a fight as they quickly erased a four-point shortage with five straight points after a layup, steal and a hoop plus free throw put them ahead 48-47 with 3:28 remaining.
• Chauntel Acosta put the YellowJackets back on top with a shot from behind the arc as LETU reclaimed the lead at 50-48 as the game would feature just two lead changes. Millsaps would see one more good opportunity trailing by one with 12 seconds to go, but Whitfield sealed the deal with a steal and layup as time expired to allow the YellowJackets to claim a 54-51 victory and avenge a loss earlier this season to the Majors.

Key Stats:

• Whitfield finished with a double-double after scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-best 12 rebounds for the YellowJackets. Alexandria Thorne would record a team-high 14 points in the victory while Acosta scored six points and added four assists.
• LETU shot 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the field, compared to a 19-for-54 (35.2 percent) output from Millsaps.
• Sinking six three-pointers, the YellowJackets held a 12-point advantage in three-pointers as they connected on six-of-17 (35.3 percent) of their attempts.

What's Next?
LETU will return to American Southwest Conference play as they face Hardin-Simmons University in a 5:30 matchup on Thursday, January 3rd in Longview, Texas. The Cowgirls will enter Thursday's game holding an 8-4 overall record, coming off a 67-66 victory over nationally-ranked Texas-Dallas on December 18th.