Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team opened the game with a 14-2 run but could not hold on as LeTourneau University heated up in the second half as the Yellow Jackets pulled out a 72-69 victory over the Cru Saturday evening in Belton. The loss drops the UMHB women to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in American Southwest Conference play on the season. LeTourneau improves to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the ASC with the victory.
The Cru dominated early, building that 14-2 lead. LeTourneau battled back and cut the lead to 28-26 with 55 seconds left in the half. UMHB scored five straight, including Taylor Tucker's three-pointer at the buzzer to take a 33-26 halftime lead. The Cru led by as many as 11 points in the second half and held a 58-49 edge with 7:24 remaining. LeTourneau scored the next seven points and finally tied the game at 60 with 4:59 to go. The Yellow Jackets took their first lead at 64-62 with 2:58 left. Kourtney Bevers three-pointer put UMHB up 67-64 with 1:27 on the clock and UMHB was up 69-66 with 33 seconds left. Andrea Ashley's three-pointer tied it at 69 and LeTourneau iced the game with three free-throws as the Cru turned the ball over twice in the final 12 seconds.
Taylor Tucker led UMHB with 23 points and she also pulled down 11 rebounds. Jovana Miles added 17 points and 17 boards and Macy Moore also reached double figures with 10 points. The Cru shot just 32 percent from the field and turned the ball over 21 times. UMHB out rebounded the Yellow Jackets 61-40 in the loss.
Ashley Fajardo and Jessica Manas led LeTourneau with 15 points apiece. Ashley added nine points and a team-best eight rebounds. The Yellow Jackets hit 8-18 from three-point range in the second half and shot 37 percent from the field overall.
The UMHB women will return to action in one week with a road game at Mississippi College next Saturday. The Cru will then face Louisiana College on Monday, December 10th to close out the road swing.