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LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University women's basketball team fell Friday in a closely-fought game against Mary Hardin-Baylor, 67-64, at home.

Trailing 32-26 entering the second half, the YellowJackets (1-1) outscored the Crusaders (3-1) in the third period, 21-16, and tugged at Mary Hardin-Baylor's lead three times in the game, but failed to make up the ground necessary to win in the fourth period, despite a three-pointer from Malacia Guy in the final moments to bring the Crusaders' lead within striking distance.

The Crusaders consistently maintained a higher shooting percentage from the field in every quarter, totaling 28 of 65 field overall, while the YellowJackets hit 21 of 67. In the first period, the YellowJackets were 4 of 15 from the field, improving in the second period to 5 of 16. Despite an increase in the third quarter to 8 of 20, the Jackets dropped the fourth quarter, going 4 of 16 from the field.

Guy was the leading scorer with 18 points on four made field goals, including two three-pointers and eight free throws. Sophomore forward Kyndall Hardeman finished with 12 points. Scruffy Hopkins added 11 points on 4 of 9 shooting. The Crusaders' leading scorer was freshman forward Ashley Faux, who had 16 points – all from the field.

The Cru built an eight point lead on a transition basket by Taylor Kollmorgen with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter. The Jackets went on a 7-1 run over a 1:18 span to pull within two on Hardeman's basket off a feed by Ajanae Thomas. Keauna Whitfield, who finished with eight points to move into a tie with Kim Chatman (1996-98) for sixth place on the school's all-time scoring list at 1,036 points, sank a pair free throws at the 6:38 mark of the third to pull LETU within one, 37-36.

With 3:43 to go in the third, Hardeman scored to put the Jackets up 43-42. Hopkins sank two free throws 42 seconds later to pad LeTourneau's lead to three. A basket by Cheyanne Bonilla with 1:32 to go in the period put the Cru back on top, 48-47.

UMHB extended its lead to eight on a transition 3-pointer by Brooke Elliott with 6:32 to go, but LETU whittled it down to four on a basket by Hardeman midway through the fourth quarter. Guy split a pair from the stripe at the 3:33 mark to pull the Jackets within three. But Bonilla knocked down a fastbreak jumper inside the two-minute mark to push the Cru's lead back to seven, and LeTourneau never recovered.  

Flora Akingbade grabbed 12 rebounds, Whitfield had seven, and Guy six, but LETU was outrebounded, 51-40. Whitfield had five steals, and added four assists.

The YellowJackets outscored the Crusaders from the free throw line, going 18-for-24 for 75% accuracy. In comparison, the Crusaders went 7-for-17 at the stripe for a 41.2% clip.

LeTourneau will play Texas A&M-Texarkana in the three-day Dallas Christian College Christmas Classic on Dec. 29.