The women’s Patriots basketball team split two American Southwest Conference games last week defeating LeTourneau 67-53 on Saturday after being dealt a 64-61 loss to East Texas Baptist on Thursday.
Thursday
The Patriots dominated the first half, making a 25-9 run in the final 13 minutes of the half. Paige Parrish led the way with 13 points. Lauren Glasco controlled the lane, recording nine points and seven rebounds.
The Patriots shot 51.7 percent from the floor, 5-10 from behind the arc. ETBU managed to shoot only 24 percent.
The tables turned in the second half as the Tigers slowly, but surely crawled back into the game.
Satara Harrell, Karlee Wilson and Emily Leek led the Tigers on a 17-2 run to tie the game at 45 with 11:35 remaining. ETBU took their first lead with 10 minutes remaining on Wilsons old-fashioned three-point play.
The Tiger’s extended their lead to five with 6:33 remaining, but with 2:30 left Olivia Burns recaptured the lead for the Patriots by knocking down two free throws.
Patriot Paige Parrish, left, gets off a shot Thursday night against an ETBU defender at the first of two home games last week. Parrish scored 13 points in the first half and led all scorers with 25 points. The women Patriots lost 64-61. The Patriots defeated LeTourneau University on Saturday by a score of 67-53. Photo by Richard Sarmiento.
The lead changed three more times and with eight seconds remaining Burns found herself back at the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game. Burns made the first and missed the second, giving the Tigers time to extend their 62-61 lead.
Harrell streaked down the court on the in-bound pass to make a wide-open layup. Kayla Elizalde’s three-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the front of the rim, sending the Tigers home with a victory.
We showed a lot of heart, ETBU head coach Lane Lloyd said. Our kids didn’t quit and they kept fighting.
It was all youth out there tonight, Patriots head coach Stasha Richards said. You can tell we are extremely talented and we just made some bad decisions. The kids are working hard and keeping their head high, but inexperience showed tonight.
Richards said Glasco’s foul trouble in the second half allowed the Tigers to work more easily in the lane. Glasco sat on the bench during most of the second half and scored no points.
The Patriots finished the game shooting 38.9 percent, with 24 percent in the second half.
Parrish and ETBU’s Harrell led all scorers with 25 points. Tiger’s Wilson followed with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Tigers scored 15 points off turnovers, had 17 second-chance points and out-rebounded the Patriots 47-37.
Saturday
The Patriots jumped out to a 7-0 lead to open the game against LeTourneau. Olivia Burns took the opening tip to the basket, and Kirsti Wallace made a three-point shot to start things off.
The Lady Jackets fought back and took their first lead at the 13:17 mark. The score remained close for the remained of the half, with the largest lead being six.
Elizalde made a three with 30 seconds left and the Patriots took a 30-25 lead into the locker room.
Both teams shot under 40 percent and combined for 29 turnovers.
The Patriots dominated the second half, going on a 19-1 run in nine minutes of play. Wallace led the way with six points during the run.
Parrish took control of the final seven minutes for the Patriots. Parrish scored six points in a two-minute span and finished the game with 12 points.
Burns led all scorers with 15 points. Wallace and Elizalde followed with 14 and 13 points respectfully, career highs for both.
Laura Hahn led LeTourneau with 12 points.
I thought we got great production out of Kayla [Elizalde], especially from the point guard position, Richards said. I think free throws and rebounding are what we still need to work on.
After today we’ve gained some confidence, and now we have the opportunity to steal one on the road. The Patriots are scheduled to play in Marshall against ETBU on Thursday and in Longview against LeTourneau on Saturday.
The Patriots are now 9-10 overall, 7-7 in ASC play, and are currently tied for fourth in the ASC East with ETBU.
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