Box Score: 


LONGVIEW, Texas – LeTourneau women's basketball completes the American Southwest Conference opening weekend sweep, downing Howard Payne 72-62 to finish the week 2-0.

LETU improves to 5-1 overall, 2-0 in league play. Howard Payne drops to 2-5, 1-3.

LeTourneau jumped on the visiting HPU Yellow Jackets early, putting up 22 points in the first period to take an eight-point lead heading into the second, 22-14. The 22 points that the Jackets accumulated in the first quarter was the most they've scored in the opening quarter this season.

The YellowJackets of LeTourneau shot 47% in the first period, while holding HPU to 42% shooting from the field.

Howard Payne's Bria Neal shrunk the LETU lead to six after scored on back-to-back buckets to begin the second quarter. After LeTourneau split a pair of free throw Neal struck again with a score, bringing the lead to five but LETU's Allaira Jones countered the basket with a made layup of her own, pushing the LETU lead back to seven, 27-20. A quick 5-0 spurt by HPU brought the visiting Jackets within two with 5:18 left in the half, but Keauna Whitfield netted a three to hault Howard Payne to hold a five-point advantage for LeTourneau. HPU's Delaney Ingram sparked another 5-0 rally to knot the game at 30, until Malacia Guy cashed in a three-pointer to send LETU up three at the half.

LeTourneau shot a game low 23% in the second quarter. Howard Payne shot 39%. HPU outscored LETU 10-4 in points in the pain in the quarter.

LETU came out stinging to begin the third, springing out to a 12-3 run, forcing Howard Payne to take a timeout and regroup. LeTourneau held a 12-point advantage after the run, 45-33. HPU converted on a layup out of the timeout to cut the lead to 10 but two free throw by Kyndall Hardeman pushed the lead back to 12 midway through the third. Neal capped off an 8-2 run for Howard Payne to come within six, 48-43. Whitfield hit two free throws and Guy swiped a steal to find Whitfield in transition for two, extending the LETU lead back to 10. A last second three by HPU's Amanda Turpin left the YellowJacket of Howard Payne down by six moving into the final period.

Allaira Jones snagged down an offensive board for a putback, extending the LeTourneau lead to 10 with 6:02 left in regulation. Howard Payne's Neal drove to the hole for two, but a quick three-point answer by Ajanae Thomas from Guy lifted LETU ahead by 11, 62-51. HPU stung back, creating a 7-0 rally to come within four with 1:56 left in regulation. That's as close as Howard Payne would get as LeTourneau provided stingy defense in the last minute, forcing HPU into three turnovers.

LETU scored on each of its last seven possessions, going 8-12 from the line to close out the game.
 
Inside the Numbers:
Whitfield led LETU with 18 points, nine rebounds, and a block.
Guy stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Guy also had a career high three blocks.
Thomas finished with s netted a season-high 17 points and a career high seven assists with five rebounds.
Jones recorded a double-double with 21 points and 17 boards.
Jones collects her 11th career double-double, fourth at LETU.
Jones has three 20-point games in her career, first as a YellowJacket.
LeTourneau outrebounded HPU 54-43.
LETU has outrebounded every opponent this season.
The YellowJackets of LETU held an 8-2 advantage in fast break points over Howard Payne.

Up Next: 
LeTourneau returns back to Solheim Arena as it faces off against Belhaven Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in another ASC battle.