FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 campaign with a 65-57 win over the Dallas Christian Crusaders on Thursday night.
The win was the first for first-year head coach
Morgan Garrett, who led the YellowJackets to their first season-opener victory since 2022.
LeTourneau (1-0) saw double-digit scoring from four different players, with
Sadie Franklin leading the way in her collegiate debut with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Mariana Espinosa added 12 points while grabbing eight rebounds, and
Robbi Martinez totaled 11 points.
Right behind came
Katelyn Dudley -- who missed all of last season due to injury -- also in her debut, racking up 10 points including a pair of buckets from long range.
Sallie Moser tied a career high with six assists on the night.
The YellowJacket defense harassed Dallas Christian (1-1), forcing 25 turnovers with 14 steals.
The first point of the 2026-27 season was registered via a
Kaylin Cervantes free throw, followed by a
Makenzie Covey layup on the ensuing possession.
Martinez then knocked down back-to-back triples, followed by a Franklin score to quickly put LeTourneau ahead 11-2 with 3:31 to go in the first.
The Crusaders, however, closed the first quarter out on an 11-3 run to trim the Jackets' lead to 14-13 heading into the second.
The two teams traded blows to open the second, with four lead changes on the first four possessions of the quarter.
A scoring drought came across the next three minutes of play, with Martinez's third 3-pointer of the night being the only made basket.
With the defense holding strong for the remainder of the quarter, LeTourneau held a slim 29-26 edge at the half.
Garrett's wise words at the half proved fruitful, as Dudley and Espinosa combined to score six straight out of the break to extend LeTourneau's lead to nine.
Dallas Christian wouldn't fade away, however, trimming the lead down throughout the third.
The Jackets lead 42-38 heading into the fourth quarter, but consecutive field goals from the Crusaders tied the contest with 7:51 remaining.
LeTourneau wouldn't shy away from the pressure, though, with Espinosa converting an and-1 on the ensuing possession to push the YellowJackets right back into the lead.
The teams traded baskets before Dudley knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to push LeTourneau ahead by four.
LeTourneau made four of its final five shot attempts, and went 6-for-8 at the line once the fouling game began to hold on for victory.
Dallas Christian was led by Brooke Thomas' 17 points, with Linda Bibbs adding 15.
UP NEXT
LeTourneau takes a week off before traveling to Kentucky for a pair of games in the Lee's Famous Recipe/Hampton Inn Classic, hosted by Centre (Nov. 20-21).
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