LONGVIEW, Texas -- Mariana Espinosa, Future Asevedo, and Makenzie Covey all scored in double-figures and the No. 4 seed LeTourneau women's basketball team advanced past No. 5 seed Howard Payne, 70-58, in the ASC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday inside Solheim Arena.

LeTourneau (9-17) advances to the semifinal round for the first time since 2016. The YellowJackets will face top-seed, and host, East Texas Baptist on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Marshall.

Espinosa had 15 points with five rebounds, while Asevedo had 14 points and Covey 12 points in the win. Kylie Weeks added eight points with seven rebounds and four assists and Sara Savage also tallied seven boards. Brooklyn Iman came off the bench to score seven points with four rebounds.

LeTourneau overcame a slow start to take a two-point lead (24-22) at the half. The YellowJackets trailed by five in the second, but regained the lead at 19-18 on a 3-pointer from Asevedo with 5:22 left in the quarter. 

Covey scored the first six points of the third period for LeTourneau, including an impressive turnaround jumper at the end of the shot clock that gave the YellowJackets a 30-24 lead with eight minutes left.

The lead stretched to double-digits for the first time at 36-26 after an Espinosa bucket with 6:16 remaining. LeTourneau led by 12 later in the quarter and took a 44-37 lead into the fourth.

Two Sallie Moser free throws early in the fourth gave LeTourneu its largest lead of the night at 14 (51-37) as the YellowJackets looked poised to run away with the game.

Howard Payne (4-22) rallied with a 12-1 scoring run to get within three (52-49) with five minutes left. LeTourneau had the answer, though, as Savage grabbed an offensive rebound and made the putback to start an 8-0 YellowJacket run.

An Espinosa 3-pointer with 3:28 left was the dagger during the stretch and put LeTourneau back in front by 10 (59-49).

LeTourneau connected on 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the field and 18-of-27 at the line. 

Howard Payne was led by 21 points from Madison Clay, while Caitlyn Panuco had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds. The visitors shot 37 percent (20-of-54) for the game.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau plays in the ASC Tournament semifinals on Friday at East Texas Baptist (7:30 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.