CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas - Despite an early first quarter lead, the LeTourneau University women's basketball team would fail to find their offensive rhythm in a 56-37 road defeat to the University of the Ozarks at Mabee Gymnasium in Clarksville, Arkansas on Thursday, January 24th.

The loss drops the YellowJackets to a 5-13 overall record and a 2-7 standing in the American Southwest Conference. The Eagles improved to 10-8 overall and 7-3 in ASC action with the victory.

How It Happened:

• Five consecutive points coming from junior guard Alexandria Thorne was enough to keep LeTourneau within striking distance after trailing 7-3 until a Claudia Moonsammy three pointer with 4:37 left in the first quarter sparked a 7-0 YellowJacket run to put LETU up 12-9.  
• Thorne continued her dominate performance as she strung together four more points to end the period scoring 9 of LeTourneau's 12 points to put them back just one point behind of the Eagles at 13-12.
• Offensive woes found their way to the YellowJackets in the second quarter as Thorne and company would be limited to one basket which allowed UO to claim a 34-16 lead at intermission.
• Coming out of the break, Olivia Eweni would attempt to shift momentum as she scored the first two points of the third quarter until the Eagles answered with a 6-0 run to put LETU in a 40-18 hole.
• LeTourneau would use the final two minutes of the quarter to make up some ground, using the charity stripe to their advantage by connecting on six of their eight free throws despite trailing 46-27 heading to the fourth.
• Two baskets in the opening minute of the final period would allow LeTourneau to gain some quick momentum and cut the deficit to 15 at 46-31, but the offense would again become sporadic and prove to be not enough to spark a comeback for the YellowJackets.
   

Key Stats:

• Thorne would put up a team-high 15 points for the YellowJackets while Keauna Whitfield would lead the YellowJackets with nine rebounds.
• LETU would do their best to overcome a 13-of-57 (22.8 percent) performance from the field by limiting their turnovers to just 10 while forcing 14 turnovers from the Eagles. Ozarks would manage to hold a 10-9 advantage however in points off turnovers.
• The Eagles would also manage to take advantage on the glass, grabbing 11 offensive and 36 defensive boards while holding the YellowJackets to just 31 total rebounds.
   

What's Next?
LeTourneau will head back to their home state to travel to Tyler, Texas to face the University of Texas-Tyler in a 1 p.m. matchup on Saturday, January 26th. The Patriots will enter Saturday's game holding a 10-8 overall record following a 72-64 home defeat against nationally-ranked East Texas Baptist Thursday night.