LONGVIEW -- The YellowJackets didn't waste time, putting this one in the books early.

LeTourneau University women's basketball team got out of the gates early behind a furious pressure defense en route to an 81-48 win over Centenary Saturday at Solheim Arena. The YellowJackets (2-3) led 32-3 after the first period.

"We just knew we had to bring a lot of intensity out today," Keauna Whitfield said after scoring 20 points on 8 of 20 shooting. "I feel like we all just did a good job with that, causing so many turnovers."

LETU forced 31 turnovers, with 15 of them in the first half, as the Jackets got out to the big lead. The YellowJackets shot a blistering 59 percent in the first quarter, going 13 of 22 from the floor, including 5 of 7 from three-point range.

Whitfield buried a three 2:39 into the game as the Jackets jumped out to a 10-3 advantage. Micayla Mikulski's triple with 4:20 to play in the opening period gave LeTourneau a 17-3 lead. The Jackets closed the rest of the quarter on a 15-0 run, which included three straight buckets by Whitfield, a jumper in the paint by Scruffy Hopkins, two baskets by Bailey Lightfoot and a free throw by Madison Mayfield.

LeTourneau outscored Centenary, 16-0, in points off turnovers in the first period. 

"I came with the mindset, 'I'm going to play good defense,'" said Vanessa Cruz, who finished with five steals and eight assists. "It's been a big focus in practice this week, and I feel like everyone did their part defensively."

The Ladies (0-6) outscored the Jackets, 21-13, in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 45-24 at the break. Centenary opened up the second half with the first four points to pull with 17 before Mikulski and Whitfield each had transition baskets, and Flora Akingbade scored on a putback at the 6:12 mark to extend the lead back to 23. Akingbade sank a free throw, and Lightfoot scored in the paint on one of Malacia Guy's seven assists to stretch the lead out to 29, and the Ladies never recovered.

"We all did a really good job today, coming together and working together," Whitfield said.

Lightfoot had 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting. She was 3 of 4 from long distance. Mikulski finished with 12 points and a steal. Akingbade had nine points and eight boards. Kyndall Hardeman had eight points and four rebounds. Hopkins had seven boards, a block and a steal.

The YellowJackets outrebounded the Ladies, 49-33.

"Each one of us knew we had to get this win today," Cruz said. "I think we were all focused."

LeTourneau will play at the Oglethorpe Holiday Classic Dec. 16-17 in Atlanta. The Jackets meet Oglethorpe, who is receiving votes in the Top 25 national poll, in the first game, and Centre College to wrap up the Georgia event. LETU returns home to host its own holiday tournament Dec. 28-29.