By Alan Wiederhold
Sports Information Director
LeTourneau University
LONGVIEW, Texas – La'Queda Davis and Jessica Manas both posted career highs in points to lead the LeTourneau YellowJackets to a 71-63 win Thursday over the University of the Ozarks.
At LeTourneau's Solheim Arena, Davis (Houston, Texas/Waltrip), a fifth-year senior, led the YellowJackets by scoring a career-best 22 points on 8-of-14. Manas (Fort Worth, Texas/Haltom) came off LeTourneau's bench and scored 20 points for the Jackets.
With the win, LeTourneau (13-11, 9-10 ASC) moved ahead of Ozarks and now sit alone in fourth place in the American Southwest Conference's East Division. The top four teams in each of the ASC's two divisions advance to the postseason tournament.
The win means the YellowJackets control their own destiny as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since 2003. A LeTourneau win Saturday against Texas-Dallas clinches a playoff berth for the Jackets.
The Jackets also clinched their first winning regular season since the 2002-03 season.
Four YellowJacket players ended up in double-figures Thursday. Senior guard Jahmilah Tyson (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek) matched her career-high by scoring 12 points, which included a 3-of-4 showing from the 3-point circle.
Sophomore post DeShante Thomas (Tyler, Texas/Whitehouse) added 11 points in addition to blocking three shots and securing a game-high eight rebounds for the YellowJackets.
Sabrina Goddard and April Young both finished with 20 points and seven rebounds each to lead the Eagles (12-12, 8-11 ASC East). Goddard also blocked three shots in the game.
Despite playing in front of one of the largest LeTourneau crowds of the season, it was the Eagles who came out firing, jumping out to a 17-6 lead barely eight minutes into the contest. Ozarks would lead by as many as 12 points in the first half.
The Jackets, however, regrouped and used a 12-4 run between the 9:39 and 5:03 marks to cut the Ozarks lead to 24-20. LeTourneau continued to chip away at the deficit, scoring the last five points of the half to take a 31-30 lead into the midgame break.
Playing in one of the most important games of her career, it was Davis who helped spur the comeback in the first half as she scored 14 of her 22 points prior to halftime.
Not content on letting the home team breeze to victory, the Eagles kept pace with the Jackets after halftime. The first nine minutes of the back-and-forth second half featured eight lead changes.
The Jackets appeared to seize momentum when Tyson hit her third trey of the period at the 8:24 mark, which was then followed by a pair of Manas free throws that gave LeTourneau a 58-52 lead. The Eagles were able to respond with five straight points of their own to cut the lead back to one with 6:26 left to play.
This time, the Jackets were able to keep Ozarks from claiming the lead. The Jackets seized control for good with a 7-2 run that was capped with a layup from Davis at the 2:24 mark to give the home team a 65-59 lead.
The Jackets' defense played a key role down the stretch as they were able to contain and frustrate Goddard, one of the best post players in the ASC.
LeTourneau players enjoyed one of their best shooting games of the season, draining 51 percent (22 of 43) of their shots. Meanwhile, they held Ozarks to 29 percent shooting (19 of 66) in the game.
The YellowJackets conclude the regular season Saturday when they host Texas-Dallas (18-6, 14-5 ASC East) at Solheim Arena. The Jackets must defeat the Comets if they are to advance to the postseason ASC Tournament in Pineville, La. next weekend.
Saturday's game will also be followed closely in Tyler, as a UT-Dallas win will also send the day's Ozarks-UT Tyler winner to the playoffs. Tipoff between the Comets and YellowJackets is scheduled for 1 p.m.