LONGVIEW, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's basketball team had a 10-ppoint lead in the first half against No. 15/16 Hardin-Simmons on Saturday before the visiting Cowgirls used a run midway through the second half to overcome the YellowJackets, 77-59, on Saturday inside Solheim Arena.
Bailey Broughton hit four 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 18 points for LeTourneau (6-12, 2-9 ASC).
AJ Thomas added 13 points and five rebounds, while
Alyssa Hall had 10 points and two blocks.Â
LeTourneau got off to a fast start in its fifth game against a nationally-ranked opponent this season. The YellowJackets used an 8-0 run in the first quarter, capped by a Broughton jumper, to go ahead 11-4 with 3:18 left in the opening period. LeTourneau shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16) in the first to open a 20-13 lead entering the second.
Hardin-Simmons (16-2, 11-0 ASC) rallied in the second quarter and grabbed a 33-32 lead into halftime.
The teams went back-and-forth in the third. A Thomas fastbreak jumper cut the YellowJackets' deficit to three (47-44) with 1:18 left in the third. The visiting Cowgirls outscored LeTourneau 17-0 over the next six-plus minutes to build a 64-44 lead and remained unbeaten in conference play.
LeTourneau made eight 3-pointers and shot 35 percent (21-of-60) from the field for the game.
Kylie Weeks chipped in six points and two assists, while
Haylee Jordan added five points and two blocks with four rebounds.
Hardin-Simmons got 15 points from Paris Kiser and 14 from Parris Parmer in the win. The Cowgirls connected on 41 percent (25-of-61) from the field and went 20-of-24 at the foul line.
UP NEXT
LeTourneau hits the road next week to face Concordia on Thursday (5:30 p.m.).
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