LONGVIEW, Texas - Jordan Owens (pictured) scored a team high 20 points but the Pirates were defeated by LeTourneau University 69-56, to begin 2012. The loss drops SU to under .500 for the first time this year, falling to 6-7.
Jordan Owens scored the first points of the game and got the Pirates a slight lead in the first half with 13 points and six rebounds. The largest lead of the half was owned by Southwestern as Cara Sheffer's three-pointer gave the Pirates an 11 point lead, 24-13, with 7:30 to go in the half.
Their dynamic offense went quiet, however, as the Yellowjackets pushed back to tie the count, 26-26, with 2:23 to play until the break. LeTourneau's Andrea Ashley hit a layup with 35 seconds to go to send the Pirates into halftime trailing by two, 28-26.
Owens picked up right where she left off with the opening basket of the second half to tie the score once again, 28-28. The showdown continued as teams traded blows and neither team putting together the run needed to pull away as the game moved into the final five minutes with the score tied 54-54.
LeTourneau got hot just when they needed it, pulling ahead by seven, 61-54, with just under three minutes to go in the game. A layup by Owens, her 20th point, brought SU within five, 61-56, but LeTU punched back with a layup of their own and stayed just out of the Pirates' reach the rest of the way.
Southwestern was out-rebounded 60-39 in the game and committed 20 turnovers but also forced the Yellowjackets into 25. Owens' was the only play in double-digits for SU while LeTU's Cotton led all scorers and rebounders with 21 points and 24 boards.
SU returns to SCAC action at home on January 13th as they face Birmingham Southern for Youth Basketball Night at 6pm.