LONGVIEW, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's basketball team made life tough again for Mary Hardin-Baylor, but the visiting Cru pulled away for a 64-45 victory over the YellowJackets in ASC action on Thursday night inside Solheim Arena.

Mariana Espinosa scored a team-high 13 points for LeTourneau (8-15, 2-5 ASC) and Kylie Weeks added 11 for the YellowJackets in the loss.

For a second time in less than three weeks, LeTourneau hung tough with Mary Hardin-Baylor (15-7, 4-1 ASC) through the first two quarters. Both teams struggled to make shots in the early going with just six combined made field goals in a 7-7 first period. The YellowJackets took an 11-10 lead on a Makenzie Covey layup with 7:34 left in the second quarter.

Mary Hardin-Baylor found its footing over the final seven minutes of the half and grabbed a 26-20 lead into the break.

A Weeks layup followed by a 3-pointer brought LeTourneau to within 34-29 with 5:47 left in the third period. UMHB stretched the lead back to double figures later in the quarter and ket the YellowJackets at bay for the rest of the night.

Espinosa added six rebounds, two assists, and two steals to her line while Weeks tallied three steals and three rebounds. Sara Savage totaled eight points with eight rebounds and LaTerra Satcher had six points and two rebounds. 

UMHB was led by 15 points and 11 rebounds from Jaycie Brisco and 11 points apiece from Adyson James and Amillion Fowler. The Crus shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field, but were held to 2-of-15 from 3-point line.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau hosts UT Dallas for its regular season home finale on Saturday (2 p.m.).

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