AUSTIN, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's basketball team played its first game of the new year and its first in 14 days on Saturday and fell to Concordia Texas, 84-65, in non-conference action in Austin.

LeTourneau (5-9) trimmed a 28-point deficit to just 12 early in the fourth quarter before running out of steam in its comeback attempt.

Mariana Espinosa led the way for LeTourneau with 20 points, going 8-of-9 at the free throw line, to go with six rebounds and two assists. Kylie Weeks added 17 points with a 9-for-11 effort at the line and three rebounds.

LeTourneau went 21-of-30 from the charity stripe as Espinosa and Weeks led the way.

Concordia (5-3) got off to a hot start early on. The Tornados scored the first 16 points and led 31-8 at the end of the first quarter. Concordia stretched the lead to 36-8 early in the second quarter and took a 45-24 lead at halftime.

LeTourneau outscored Concordia, 18-10, in the third quarter to trim the margin to 13 (55-42) entering the fourth. The YellowJackets went on a 7-0 run to finish the third as Espinosa made five free throws and Gracie Hunter added a steal and layup to cap the stretch.

In the fourth, LeTourneau made it a 12-point game after a bucket from Sara Savage with 8:50 left. Concordia answered with a 3-pointer and the margin stayed at 15 or higher the rest of the way.

Five players scored in double-figures for Concordia led by 16 points and nine rebounds from Madison Martinez. Taysie Trejo added 14 points. The Tornados shot 40 percent (26-of-65) from the field with 11 3-pointers.

LaTerra Satcher, Future Asevedo, and Espinosa each had six rebounds for LeTourneau.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau hosts College of Biblical Studies on Tuesday inside Solheim Arena (6 p.m.).

FOLLOW THE YELLOWJACKETS

Be sure to follow LeTourneau athletics all season long on letuathletics.com and social media at Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news, and other information.