Ozarks downs LeTourneau 80-55, will face UT-Tyler to determine playoff berth Saturday

More news about: LeTourneau

By Alan Wiederhold
LETU Sports Information

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – An early 16-0 run vaulted the Eagles of the University of the Ozarks to a 22-5 lead with 12:07 remaining in the first half as they went to claim an 80-55 win over visiting LeTourneau.

Sabrina Goddard scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting to lead three Eagles players in double-figures. The win pulled the Eagles (13-11, 9-10 American Southwest Conference) into a fourth-place tie with UT-Tyler. The two teams will meet Saturday to determine the fourth and final playoff representative from the ASC East.

Megan McGuire (Hallsville, Texas/Hallsville) scored 13 points and Laura Hahn (Cuero, Texas/Cuero) came off the LeTourneau bench to add 13 more for the YellowJackets.

McGuire, a first-year point guard, shot 3-of-5 from the field, which included a pair of 3-point baskets out of three attempts.

Hahn, a sophomore post, shot 5-of-9 from the field and grabbed a team-high six rebounds for the YellowJackets (2-22, 1-18 ASC East).

The Eagles never trailed during the contest. LeTourneau cut the Ozarks lead to one when Alexis Wighaman (Porter, Texas/New Caney) drained a field goal with 17:33 remaining in the first half. From there, the Jackets missed their next eight shots and Ozarks began pulling away.

Poor shooting by the YellowJackets overwhelmed the team's best game of the season as far as taking care of the basketball. The Jackets committed a season-low 11 turnovers, but only managed to shoot 29 percent (17 of 59) from the field for the game.

Ozarks, meanwhile, shot 45 percent (25 of 56) from the field en route to the victory.

Lacey Phillips scored 17 points for the Eagles, and teammate Ashley Teague chipped in with 14 points.

Jessica Manas (Haltom City, Texas/Haltom City) and La'Queda Davis (Houston, Texas/Waltrip) scored six points apiece for LeTourneau. Manas also added a career-high six assists to her total.

The YellowJackets conclude the season Saturday when they travel to Richardson to face UT-Dallas. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.