A 14-4 spurt to end the game by host Howard Payne University proved to be enough as they defeated the LeTourneau University women's basketball team, 71-57 on Saturday afternoon in Brownwood.
 
LeTourneau (6-8, 4-7 ASC) led for most of the first half as they shot 50% from the field. LETU senior Alexis Wighaman scored 10 of her 12 to pace the YellowJackets in the first 20 minutes. She was joined in double figures for the game by senior Julencia Curtis, who had her second double double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds and junior Ashley Fajardo, who added 14 on the strength of four 3 pointers. It marks the second-straight game that Curtis has led LeTourneau in scoring and sixth time on the season.

Howard Payne (9-6, 8-4 ASC) was led by Danyel Bradley, who scored a game-high 22 points. She was joined in double digits by a pair of teammates – who also registered double double performances – Sarah Van Remmen (13 points, 13 rebounds) and Kalin Hanna (12 points, 11 rebounds). At the halftime break, both teams had scored 18 points in the paint but in the second half, Howard Payne outscored LeTourneau by a 22-8 margin.

"I felt like our effort today was at the standard that we desire," said LeTourneau head women's basketball coach Corey Thomaston. "However, we have to focus for 40 full minutes in order to knock off tough teams on the road."

LeTourneau built an early six-point advantage, 17-11, when Curtis made a jumper with 11:43 to go in the first half. LETU remained in front before HPU rallied to tie the game on three occasions and went ahead when Shardena Hudson made a 3 pointer with 4:39 to go in the first half. The 3 pointer put HPU ahead for the first time in the contest as well as the duration of the game.
 
Trailing by 12, 43-41 with 9:42 to go, Fajardo hit her first of four 3 pointers to spark a 12-4 spurt for LeTourneau that cut the deficit to 4. In the spurt, she hit an additional 3 pointer and LETU got scoring from three of her teammates. HPU answered the LETU spurt with a game-deciding 14-4 spurt to end the chances for a come-from-behind win for the visitors.
 
LeTourneau will continue its four-game road trip when they travel to Pineville, Louisiana on Thursday, Jan. 23 to take on Louisiana College at 5:30 p.m.