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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The LeTourneau University women’s basketball team wrote another chapter in its history with an 86-78 win over Hardin-Simmons in the American Southwest Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday in Tyler.
In just its third tournament appearance in program history, the YellowJackets picked up the first win for a LeTourneau University basketball team in ASC history. To achieve that success, LeTourneau followed its recipe for success – a strong inside and outside game – that has brought the YellowJackets back in the tournament for the third time in school history. The win improves LeTourneau to 17-9 on the 2015-’16 season, and it’s most wins on the season since a 24-win season in 1997-98.
Junior Crystal Jones and senior Ashley Stephens, who had 36 and 19 points, respectively led LeTourneau. Stephens – who is one of four YellowJackets with tournament experience as a member of the 2013-’14 team that reached the ASC Tournament – pulled down 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. The effort by Jones adds to her accomplishments in 2015-16 including 25 of 26 games in double figures, ten 20-point games, five 30-point games, 15 games with multiple 3-pointers, 12 games with at least three 3-pointers and five games with at least five 3-pointers.
Juniors Bria Goodman and LaTanya Drakes, who had 13 and 11 points, respectively, joined the duo.
Heidi Schroeder and Kourtney Holyfield, who had 22 and 20 points, respectively, led Hardin-Simmons (11-15).
After being held scoreless over the last 7:22 of the first half, LeTourneau scored six of the eight final points in the third quarter for a 57-56 lead. It was the first lead by LETU since the 5:50 mark of the second quarter.
Then, the YellowJackets handed the game over to the tandem of Jones and Stephens. The duo combined to outscore 26 of the YellowJackets’ final 29 points as they outscore Hardin-Simmons by seven, 29-22. In the quarter, Jones scored 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and Stephens scored 10.
The Cowgirls managed to cut the deficit to four, 72-68 with 4:36 left in the contest, but a 10-2 spurt by LeTourneau ended the comeback hopes for Hardin-Simmons. In the spurt, Jones hit a pair of 3-pointers for the YellowJackets.
LeTourneau advances to Friday’s semifinals to face Howard Payne, who defeated Texas Dallas, 80-73 in another quarterfinal matchup.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
A hot-shooting first half by host Sul Ross State proved to be too much for the LeTourneau University men’s basketball team, who dropped an ASC Tournament quarterfinal decision, 97-72.
The host Lobos (16-9) shot 56.3% in the first half to build a 48-27 halftime lead on the YellowJackets, who were making their third ASC Tournament appearance in program history.
LeTourneau (12-14) sophomore Sam Talbert and senior C.J. Edwards scored 16 and 15 points, respectively. Plus, sophomore Alec Colhoff added 10 points
Sul Ross State started the game on a 22-6 run with four different players leading the charge. Among the four were Alex Harrison and Caleb Thomasson, who scored 26 and 22 points to lead the Lobos, who had four individuals in double figures. The win sends the Lobos to the semifinals for the first time since 2005 where they will face ASC West Division runner-up Hardin-Simmons.
“Sul Ross State played great tonight, and I compliment them on the way they played on both ends,” said LETU head coach Dan Miller. “Our guys played better the second half, but we had to big of a deficit to overcome and didn’t get it done.”
As noted by Miller, the YellowJackets had a strong second half and worked the deficit to 15 before the Lobos closed out the contest with a 10-0 run to end the comeback hopes for LeTourneau.
“I love this team and am extremely proud of them,” said Miller. “We took a step forward this year and planned on continuing the rise in the ASC. The seniors (CJ Edwards, Chris Hynes, Jake Kennedy, Giovanny Thompson, Zakarius Wells) on this team are tremendous young men and set a great example for our young team. We will learn from this experience and be ready next season for a great year.”
Miller also wanted to express his thanks to the fans and followers, “I want to thank all of the LETU community for its support this season as it has been a lot of fun for our guys.”