LeTourneau Basketball Teams Falter in Road Games Against Centre and Belhaven

The LeTourneau University men’s and women’s basketball teams faced challenging road contests over the weekend, resulting in losses against Centre College and Belhaven University. The men’s team fell 88-75 to Centre, marking their first defeat of the season, while the women lost 79-69 to Belhaven, continuing their struggle early in the season.

Men’s Team Faces Tough Loss Against Centre

In Lookout Mountain, Georgia, the LeTourneau men’s basketball team struggled to recover from a slow start in their match against Centre on November 25, 2023. The YellowJackets, now holding a record of 3-1, were unable to overcome an early deficit, ultimately losing by a score of 88-75.

Jackson Mayes led the team with 25 points, while Teigan Edwards contributed 24 points. Mayes also recorded four rebounds and four assists, and Edwards added five rebounds and two assists. Despite their efforts, the team faced significant challenges from Centre’s defensive pressure, which allowed the Colonels to establish a 10-point lead early in the game.

The turning point came with a layup by Garrison Hildebrandt, which brought the score to 18-8 with 10:32 remaining in the first half. Although Mayes and Edwards managed to reduce the deficit to five points at 25-20, Centre responded with a surge, finishing the first half with a 48-35 lead.

LeTourneau attempted to close the gap in the second half, but Centre maintained their lead with consistent scoring. The YellowJackets shot only 39.3 percent from the field, hitting 22 of 56 attempts, and struggled from beyond the arc with a 35 percent success rate (7 of 20). Centre, on the other hand, demonstrated a formidable performance, converting 50.8 percent of their shots and sinking 12 three-pointers.

Leading the way for Centre was Drake Ingram, who scored 24 points, supported by teammates Kalib Thomas with 18 points, Landen Hamilton with 12, and Riley Mastin with 11. LeTourneau’s next opportunity to rebound comes on December 2, 2023, when they face Centenary College at 17:30.

Women’s Team Falls Short Against Belhaven

In Jackson, Mississippi, the LeTourneau women’s basketball team encountered a similar fate, falling 79-69 to Belhaven on the same day. Despite holding a late lead, the YellowJackets were unable to secure the victory, dropping their record to 1-3.

Makenzie Covey was a standout performer, scoring a career-high 24 points and grabbing nine rebounds. She shot an impressive 11 of 15 from the floor and added three assists. Kylie Weeks also made a significant impact with 16 points, including four three-pointers, and showcased her defensive skills with four steals. Mariana Espinosa contributed 15 points and six rebounds, marking her third game of the season with over 15 points.

LeTourneau opened the game strongly, with Covey scoring the first basket, but Belhaven quickly responded with a 9-0 run. The YellowJackets managed to cut the lead to one point later in the second quarter, thanks to a baseline jumper from Covey. However, Belhaven closed the half with a flurry of points, leading 41-30 at halftime.

The second half saw LeTourneau come out strong, launching a 14-4 run to narrow the gap. They continued to fight back and even took a brief lead in the fourth quarter. But Belhaven regained momentum, scoring 12 unanswered points and dominating the final minutes of the game, ultimately sealing the victory.

Savannah Hailey led Belhaven with a double-double, accumulating 11 points and 14 rebounds, along with five steals. The YellowJackets will look to bounce back in their next matchup on November 28, 2023, against Rhodes College at 15:00, before heading into the Thanksgiving break.

Both teams will aim to refine their strategies and regain their momentum in upcoming games as the season progresses.