LeTourneau Women’s Basketball Opens Season with New Conference Challenges

The LeTourneau University women’s basketball team begins its season on November 11, 2023, facing Howard Payne University. This marks an exciting turning point as the YellowJackets enter their inaugural season in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Scot MacAllister, the team is eager to establish its presence in the new league.

Joining MacAllister on the coaching staff is second-year assistant coach Samantha Tan, along with graduate assistant coach Mikayla Jones, who brings significant experience from her playing days at Faith Baptist Bible College. Jones scored over 1,500 career points and received all-conference honors four times, providing valuable insights to the developing roster.

Roster Overview

To strengthen the team, MacAllister has added nine new players to complement the seven returning athletes. “I’m loving working with this group,” MacAllister stated. “Their work ethic and willingness to hold each other to a higher standard are a continuation of how we finished out last spring.” This camaraderie and commitment may prove vital as the team navigates its new conference challenges.

Among the returners, junior Mariana Espinosa stands out after earning an all-conference selection last season. Espinosa started all 27 games for the YellowJackets, averaging 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The team’s only senior, Kylie Weeks, also made an impact last season, averaging 8.7 points and leading the team with 1.8 steals per game while boasting an impressive free throw percentage of 85.1%.

Other key returning players include Makenzie Covey, who transitioned from a bench role to a starter last season, and Robbi Martinez, who joined the team mid-year. The sophomore class features Sallie Moser, Brooklyn Iman, and Norah White, all of whom contributed significantly during their rookie season.

The freshman class consists of Bella Brown, Aleia Huff, Breeanna Hoffman, Kaylin Cervantes, Taylor Brown, Katelyn Dudley, Fayth Fry, and Madeline Underwood. Notably, Kathryn Laurence joins the team as the only junior college transfer, having previously played at Salem Community College, where she averaged 11.4 points and 2.8 rebounds.

“Our newcomers are a joy to work with,” MacAllister added. “They are open to coaching not only from the staff but also from their teammates. That type of coachability and their commitment to developing their game will have quite a few of them see the floor early.”

SCAC Preseason and Upcoming Matches

In the SCAC Preseason poll, LeTourneau was ranked 10th, earning 38 points. The team is positioned fourth among Blue Division teams, with Texas Lutheran topping the predictions with seven first-place votes and a total of 117 points. Austin College leads Blue Division teams in the poll with 62 points and a sixth-place prediction.

The YellowJackets’ season opener against Howard Payne is the first of two meetings this year, with the second scheduled for December 6. LeTourneau’s home opener will take place on November 15 against the College of Biblical Studies, where fans will enjoy free admission for all home games throughout the 2023-24 season.

Additional exhibition games include matchups against Houston Christian on November 18 and Grambling on December 22. The SCAC opener is set for December 2 against Centenary, coinciding with the annual R.G. Night at LeTourneau, which will feature giveaways for attendees. This contest initiates a four-game homestand, which includes matches against HPU (December 6), College of Biblical Studies (December 13), and Millsaps (December 18).

LeTourneau will also host Manchester on December 30 after the holiday break. In SCAC play, the YellowJackets will face Texas Lutheran (January 23), Concordia Texas (January 24), Dallas (January 30), Austin College (January 31), Ozarks (February 13), and Hendrix (February 14). The SCAC Tournament is scheduled for February 27 to March 1, 2024, in Conway, Arkansas, with six teams qualifying for this competitive event. The top three teams from each division will advance to the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead for LeTourneau women’s basketball.