After dropping four tough games during a rough road stretch, the Sul Ross State women's basketball team got back on track.

The Lobos had not played at home all season until their meeting with LeTourneau University on Thursday night at the Pete P. Gallego Center.

Behind a solid defensive outing, the Lobos took care of business by defeating the Yellowjackets, 74-59.

"It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. I thought we did a good job defensively," said Sul Ross head coach E.J. Lee Smith. "It's just not good enough. We didn't capitalize on their turnovers.

"We shot the ball really well. We need to continuously play together. Once we make good decisions, I think we're going to be tough."

Sul Ross started off with a 6-0 run as Vania Hampton scored the opening basket on a dish by Marley Rokas.

Hampton scored once more with a layup after a missed three-pointer. Rokas grabbed a steal and capitalized with a layup later on with 6:45 to go in the opening quarter.

A three by Melody Martinez put Sul Ross up by five. The Lobo lead grew to eight when Victoria Aguayo scored three quick points on a jumper and a free throw.

The offense kept up the consistency during the second quarter as Martinez turned a steal into two quick points.

Brianna Martin then hit a clutch three-pointer to put Sul Ross up by 11 with 8:55 in the game.

Emily Bunger kept the good vibes going on offense as she made a layup on an assist by Lauren Lusk.

After a pair of free throws by Rokas, the Lobos led by as much as 15.

LeTourneau got a three-pointer to highlight a 7-0 run, which cut the deficit down to eight with 4:20 remaining until halftime.

A three-pointer by Martinez put the Lobos back ahead by double digits later on. The Yellowjackets then chiseled down the gap to trail by seven at the break.

LeTourneau trailed by as little as five points during the third quarter before Sul Ross began to take control of the game and run away with the contest.

The run began with two layups from Hampton and Lusk. Martin then hit another clutch three.

Sul Ross went on a 15-0 run to increase the lead to 20. Martin scored nine points during the big offensive spree.

Martinez dished a pass out to Courtney Cavallin, who finished with a layup to put the Lobos up by 24 with 1:51 left in the third quarter.

Martin led the way with 18 points, four rebounds and four steals. Martinez made three 3-pointers to finish with 17 points.

Rokas added with 12 points, six assists and nine rebounds.

Hampton, Cavallin and Bunger each had six points while Aguayo finished with five.

Sul Ross shot 13 of 18 from the charity stripe while grabbing 41 rebounds. The Lobos made 44 points in the paint.

The Lobos are in fifth place in the American Southwest Conference, just a game behind second-place East Texas Baptist and Mary Hardin-Baylor.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross (7-6, 4-3); LeTourneau (4-9, 0-6)

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos host East Texas Baptist at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.