LeTourneau University

 

Head Coach Leslie Reinecker

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The LeTourneau University women hadn’t beat the Patriots since 2012. A January 9th, 2012, 73-70 win was the only time the YellowJackets had taken down UT-Tyler. That changed on Monday afternoon as hot shooting and great team play helped LETU earn the win over a highly touted Tyler team. The YellowJackets assisted on 18 of their 30 field goals and caused 13 turnovers.

The YellowJackets (5-5, 4-1 ASC) outscored the Patriots by 21 in the second half and handed Tyler their third loss of the season as they fall to 8-3 overall and 2-3 in the ASC. UTT started the season with a No. Three ranking in the preseason NCAA Division III polls after returning the core of a team that made an Elite 8 run last season.

“I’m so proud of the game our team put together today against an adamant UT Tyler team,” said head coach Leslie Reinecker <http://www.letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=454>. “We knew it was going to take a total team effort and our players stepped up to the challenge together. We stayed composed and fought back coming out of halftime. Once again, I am very pleased with our composure down the stretch to secure the win.”

Crystal Jones <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3367> was the catalyst to the LeTourneau victory as she scored 28 points. The senior guard only had eight points at the halftime break but was 7 of 13 from the field in the final 20 minutes to lead the YellowJackets. Jones added five rebounds, three assists, and six steals in her 37 minutes.

Bria Goodman <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3365> scored eight of her season-high 16 points in the third quarter to spark an LETU comeback as they trailed by 11 at the half. Goodman was 5 of 7 from the floor and hit two three-point field goals to start a third quarter comeback.

LaTanya Drakes <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3364> aka “Ms. Double-Double” notched yet another giant performance as she scored 17 points to go along with 16 rebounds. The senior forward had a monster second half with 13 points and 13 boards. This effort was the seventh double-double for Drakes in just nine games.

LeTourneau jumped out to an early seven-point lead punctuated by a Shaquicia Johnson <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3366> jumper in the paint. Johnson finished with seven points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.

The Patriots responded with a 14-3 run to end the period to take the lead 17-21. UT Tyler’s lead would swell to as many as 15 in the second quarter, and after a pair of Ashley Crockett <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3362> free-throws, LETU trailed by 11 at the half.

The third quarter was once again the difference for LeTourneau as they got a big spark from Goodman and Jones and went on a 12-1 run to cut the lead to two going into the final period.

A steal by Johnson resulted in a Crystal Jones <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3367> fast break layup with 5:04 remaining to give the YellowJackets their first lead since the 2:01 mark of the first quarter. LETU would go on a six-point run after the media timeout and push the lead to 72-65.

Bria Goodman <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3365> and LaTanya Drakes <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3364> knocked down clutch free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory and give LeTourneau their fourth conference win going into the Christmas break.

The YellowJackets will host the LETU Holiday Classic on December 29th and 30th with games against Schreiner and Texas Lutheran. Tip-off for both games will be at 4 p.m at Solheim Arena.

Next Game:
Schreiner University
12/29/2016 – 4 p.m.
Live Stats <https://portal.stretchinternet.com/letu/portal.htm?eventId=323368>
Watch Live <https://portal.stretchinternet.com/letu/portal.htm?eventId=323368&streamType=video>

* FULL SCHEDULE <http://www.letuathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=womensbasketball>
* ROSTER <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=womensbasketball>

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Alec Colhoff <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3307>’s season-high 20 points led another balanced scoring effort for LeTourneau who improved to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the American Southwest Conference as they take down the top-ranked team in the ASC East Division.

The Patriots touted a 3-1 conference record coming into the contest but fell to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the ASC.

The YellowJackets had their best shooting performance of the season connecting on 32 of 58 field goals (55.2%) and 11 of 20 from three-point range (55%). Colhoff shot 72 percent (8-11) from the floor including 4 of 6 from behind the arc.

“It was a very well-played game by both teams. We did a great job of executing our offense in the second half and a better job of attacking downhill,” said head coach Dan Miller <http://www.letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=436>. “When you shoot 55 percent and have only six turnovers you are always going to have a chance and that’s what we did today.”

Caleb Loggins <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3310> recorded his second career double-double as he pulled down ten rebounds to pair with 13 points. The sophomore forward also added four assists and three blocks in a career-high 36 minutes played.

Jeff Martin <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3311> also had a double-double performance as he notched 10 points and ten assists. This effort was the third double-double from Martin this season and the seventh of his career. The senior point guard is currently ranked 23rd in the nation with 5.9 assists per game.

Freshman Nate West <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3318> was named the ASC East Division Player of the Week before the match and scored 13 points and added four assists in just 19 minutes for the YellowJackets.

Christian Seidl <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3315> came off the bench to play 26 minutes and contribute 15 of his 17 points in the second half including two huge three-point field goals to help stretch the lead. C.J. Bird <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3306> also provided a spark off the bench at his guard position as he scored seven points in just 10 minutes. The LETU bench outscored UTT 28-14.

The YellowJackets got off to an early lead with a 10-3 run to start the game capped by a Nate West <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3318> three-point field goal. UT Tyler would battle back and tie the score at 29-29 with just over seven minutes remaining on a pair of Jordan Francis free-throws. Francis led all scorers with 38 points on 15 of 17 shooting from the floor.

The Patriots took a one point lead (41-42) into the break after a Melvin Anthony three at the halftime buzzer.

LeTourneau scored ten unanswered points, punctuated by a Caleb Loggins <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3310> layup at the 13:21 mark to grab a 54-47 lead. The margin would grow to as much as 11 on a pair of Christian Seidl <http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3315> free throws with 3:00 remaining in the game.

Missed free throws down the stretch and a career-high individual performance from UTT’s Francis chipped away at the lead and an inconsequential three-point field goal at the buzzer settled the score at 89-86.

“I would like to see us be cleaner at the end of the game with free throws and a few things,” said Miller, “but overall very proud of the team, what an excellent way to go on Christmas break.”

The YellowJackets will resume after the Christmas break by hosting Schreiner University and Texas Lutheran University in the LETU Holiday Classic on December 29th and 30th. Tip-off for both games is tabbed for 6:30 from Solheim Arena.