LONGVIEW, Texas – Two strong defensive quarters led to the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team defeating LeTourneau University, 75-51 on the road in Longview. This puts ETBU at 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the American Southwest Conference.
Leading the team was
Bridget Upton recording 24 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Upton shot 80% overall going 4-for-4 beyond the arc and was just shy of her career of 26 points set on Nov. 18 at Rhodes College. Following her was
Jamara Levy with five steals and recorded 11 points. Dittmar recorded eight rebounds and had two steals.
Kaia Williams completed the game with four assists followed by
Alexis Purcell with three assists.
ETBU shot 46% overall, 55% outside the arc, and 76% on the line. The Tigers only allowed LETU To shoot just 32% overall and 24% outside the arc.
ETBU was the first to put points on the board with a free throw by Dittmar followed by Upton with a jumper to make it, 3-0. The Yellowjackets came right back making their first shot of the game, 3-2. A three-pointer and free throw by Dittmar put the Tigers with a four-point lead just three minutes into the game. Levy brought the score to 9-4 with a shot from outside the arc on an assist from
Hannah Matthews. Matthews, Upton, and Levy all took shots on the line, bringing the score to, 14-9. LETU quickly tied the game at 14 with a three-pointer. Williams regained the Tiger lead with on a three-pointer from a Dittmar pass, 17-14. LETU took the lead with just over a minute left in the quarter, 18-17, but the Tigers did not let it last long, with a shot by Purcell for a two-point lead, 20-18, to end the quarter.
The Tigers had a great second quarter, defensively, allowing only eight. Upton started the second with a three-pointer only seven seconds in, 23-18. Another shot by Upton gave ETBU a seven-point lead, 27-20. Free throws by
Michaela James brought the score to, 29-22. Upton was on fire, getting her second and third three-pointers of the afternoon making it, 35-26. A layup by Levy gave ETBU a double digit lead, 37-26, and then a layup by James and another three-pointer by Upton ended the half, 42-26.
Brooke Webster started the second half putting ETBU on the board in just 15 seconds, 45-26. LETU returned with two free throws, 45-28. James brought a three-pointer that gave the Tigers a 20-point lead, 48-28. Upton followed with a layup, 50-28. Layups by Levy and Dittmar, followed by a free throw by
Kenidi White, gave ETBU a 23-point lead, 55-32. White followed with a shot beyond the arc that brought the score to 58-35. The quarter ended with an 18-point lead 60-42, with a free throw by the Yellowjackets.
Both teams entered the last quarter with great defense, but ETBU only allowed nine points. After three minutes with no change in the score, White was the first to put points on the board, 63-42. Free throws by Webster made it, 65-42. LETU returned with a jumper in the paint, 65-44. The Tigers quickly responded with a layup by Webster from Levy, 67-44. With less than five minutes left in the game, a layup by Levy gave ETBU a 22-point lead, 69-47. Sarah Cowan and
Jayla Hall both had layups, bringing the score to 73-48. The game ended with a three-pointer by the Yellowjackets as ETBU won their eighth game of the year, 75-51.
ETBU will play again Thursday, December 29th at 3:00 pm in Benton, Texas, against #19 UC Santa Cruz.
