TYLER, Texas â€" Texas Lutheran battled back from a 10-point second-half deficit, then hung on through a wild finish to notch a 74-72 win over LeTourneau in the final game of the UT-Tyler Christmas Classic on Wednesday.
 
The Bulldogs trailed by 10 with less than 10 minutes to play, but scored 12 straight points to gain the lead with 5:07 left. From there, it was back and forth until an action-packed final minute.
 
Karisa Cantu put the Bulldogs up 72-70 after making 1-of-2 from the free throw line with 25 seconds left. LeTourneau tied things up on an Ashley Stephens jumper with 13 seconds to go. Cantu was fouled near mid-court with seven seconds left, and made both free throws to put TLU up two.
 
Stephens got a jumper off as the horn sounded, but the shot went astray, securing the win for the Bulldogs to cap off their non-conference slate.
 
The win moved TLU's record to 5-5 on the year, while LeTourneau dropped to 3-6. The Bulldogs have now won three of their last four games and enter conference play with plenty of momentum.
 
The Bulldogs showed some toughness in the come-from-behind win, finding a way to victory despite being held to 34 percent shooting from the field. A hot-shooting second half, which featured 42 percent shooting and 40 percent shooting from deep, was the key.
 
The other key came in the Bulldogs' ability to get to the free throw line. They shot 43 free throws, compared to 28 for LeTourneau. They converted 26 of those shots (60 percent).
 
Individually, the Bulldogs were led by Cantu (San Antonio, Texas) and her 19 points. The senior also tallied four rebounds and four assists. She made 7-of-9 from the free throw stripe. She scored 12 points in the second half.
 
Taylor Dydalewicz (Dripping Springs, Texas) scored 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting. The junior pulled down five rebounds.
 
Chelsey Stolle (Falls City, Texas) played a key role, stuffing the box score with nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
 
The Bulldogs' next test will be the start of SCAC play. They hit the road for their first contest, as they take on Southwestern at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2.