LONGVIEW, Texas -- LeTourneau women's basketball couldn't complete the fourth quarter comeback, falling to the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets 54-44 inside Solheim Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

An 8-2 LeTourneau run late in the fourth quarter was enough to cut the lead to seven, but the 18-point Howard Payne lead was just too much to overcome. 

Mariana Espinosa returned to her double-digit scoring form, leading the team with 14 points on 5-of-8 from the floor. Kylie Weeks followed with 13 points of her own, and Makenzie Covey added six points and 10 boards.

LeTourneau was a force on the boards, out-rebounding the Yellow Jackets 39-24, but turnovers told the tale as Howard Payne scored 37 points off 34 LeTourneau turnovers.

The first quarter was a seesaw contest, with the period seeing eight lead changes. Every basket was answered, and every stop reciprocated. 

The YellowJackets struggled on offense in the second, as the Howard Payne defense shut them out in the final 7:35 of the half. This would allow a 9-0 run to close out the half and give the Yellow Jackets a five-point lead at the break.

LeTourneau would take momentum first after the half, opening up on a 6-0 run to regain the lead. 

Unfortunately, Howard Payne would answer with a 16-0 stretch over the next 4:34 to give them an insurmountable lead. 

Caitlyn Panuco was the driving force for Howard Payne, leading the way with 17 points and four swipes.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau looks to end its skid next week, as the YellowJackets face College of Biblical Studies on Saturday, Dec. 13, seeking victory once again.

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