Box Score
Marshall, TX-The Belhaven women's basketball team wrapped up a successful weekend at the East Texas Baptist University Classic Saturday afternoon by upending Letourneau University 66-47. The Lady Blazers are now 6-1 to start the season with the victory on Friday against East Texas Baptist and Saturday against the Lady Yellow Jackets (1-3).

 

Belhaven had a strong first half and took command of the game early on. The Lady Blazers went on a 15-5 run over the first eight and a half minutes of the contest. Jimesha Rule's old fashion three point play gave Belhaven a 10 point lead. LeTourneau fought back to close the gap to six two separate times in the first half. With 4:39 to play in the opening period, April McCamey capped off an 8-2 Lady Yellow Jacket surge with  a layup to make the score 22-16 Belhaven.

 

The Lady Blazers pushed the lead back to 10 with 3:45 to go in the half on a jumper by Jaelyn Stringer which made the score 26-16. Colleen Redmond hit a layup with 2:18 to pull Letourneau back with in six points of the lead, but they would get no closer the rest of the game. Belhaven regained any momentum the Lady Yellow Jackets may have had by reeling off the final seven points of the half to lead 33-20 at the break.

 

Jaelyn Stringer had 13 first half points to ignite the Lady Blazer offense. Holly Dial and Jira Williams each had four rebounds to lead Belhaven in that category. As a team, the Lady Blazers hit 45 percent of their shots and forced 15 turnovers. Belhaven also won the battle of the boards edging out Letourneau 17-15 on the glass. The Lady Yellow Jackets could only muster a 30 percent shooting clip from the field. Colleen Redmond and Ashley Shepard each had five points to lead LeTourneau in scoring.

 

The second half belonged to the Lady Blazers as they quickly built a 17 point lead in the opening minute of the second half. Jira Williams hit the layup to make it 37-20 Belhaven with 19:18 to play. The Lady Yellow Jackets made a couple of attempts to get back in it pulling within eight points four different times in the second half. However, Belhaven countered quickly each time maintaining the momentum in route to a 66-47 win.

 

Jaelyn Stringer led the Lady Blazers in scoring with 21 points followed by Jira Williams with 12 points. Holly Dial pulled down six rebounds which was tops on the team against LeTourneau. Belhaven shot 49 percent from the field which included hitting 14 of their 26 shots in the second half. Belhaven's defense was suffocating again Saturday, forcing 29 turnovers by the Lady Yellow Jackets. Those turnovers resulted in 24 Lady Blazer points. Alexandria Flanagan had nine points for and Colleen Redmond pulled down eight boards LeTourneau.

 

Belhaven will return to action Tuesday night as they return home to take on Wiley College. The tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM in Rugg Arena.