LONGVIEW, Texas -- The LeTourneau women's basketball team returned home on Friday night, but fell to Ozarks, 78-58, in SCAC play inside Solheim Arena.

Mariana Espinosa led LeTourneau (5-17, 2-11 SCAC) with 14 points and six rebounds while Kaylin Cervantes had 13 points with five steals and five rebounds. Robbi Martinez added 12 points and four steals with Fayth Fry totaling nine points and eight rebounds. Kylie Weeks contributed nine points.

A defensive battle early on, Ozarks (10-12, 5-8 SCAC) gained a 12-9 lead entering the second quarter. The visiting Eagles outscored LeTourneau 26-16 in the second to go ahead 38-25 at the break.

Trailing by 18 (45-27) early in the third quarter, LeTourneau mounted a comeback to get within striking distance. Two Cervantes free throws with 2:16 left in the quarter got LeTourneau within 52-45 and capped an 18-7 run. Cervantes and Martinez had five points each during the run.

Ozarks answered, though, with an 11-0 run of its own over the final two minutes of the quarter to push the margin back to 18 (63-45) entering the final period. LeTourneau got no closer down the stretch.

The YellowJackets connected on 35 percent (21-of-60) from the field. Ozarks shot 39.7 percent (27-of-68) overall and 19-of-23 at the foul line. The Eagles also had 18 second-chance points.

Elli Garcia had 15 points with eight rebounds for Ozarks, while Kennedi Wight had 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

UP NEXT

LeTourneau hosts Hendrix for Senior Day on Saturday (6 p.m.).

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