HARTFORD, Conn. (November 2, 2015) - Saying this weekend was an "experience" for Lubbock Christian University women's basketball is an exceptionally condensed sentiment, but what is there to gain from an exhibition contest for the nation's top team and potentially one of the best of all-time?
 
While the Lady Chaparrals made the nearly 2,000-mile trek by means of a chartered plane, the Huskies traveled from nearby Storrs, Conn., towards downtown Hartford to their off-campus home arena for the showdown between LCU and UConn. With over 6,000 fans in attendance inside the XL Center, Chap Nation stood proud throughout the evening no matter the score.
 
Although the five-day venture allowed the Lady Chaps time to sightsee and explore, the team knew they were ultimately in the Northeast for business. The same could be said for the Huskies, as they took the contest as a chance to improve as well. Assistant head coach Shae Ralph explained during pregame, "Tonight we want to be working on the things we've been practicing. It's going to be great to play against a good team like Lubbock Christian."
 
Despite the final outcome, the Lady Chaps left a favorable impression on the UConn contingency. Local media credited the Lubbock crew as "a nice, spirited bunch", and head coach Geno Auriemma agreed.
 
"You never know what you're gonna get when you play an exhibition game. It's a crap shoot, but they came a long way, played the other night and scored a lot of points. They played with a disregard for who they were playing; they just played and that was great," the heralded coach admired. "Their fans were great; that's a lot of fans to travel that distance. Way, way better than some exhibition games that we've had. Way better…believe me. It at least makes you work a little bit to get certain things done."
 
The Husky players also applauded LCU's performance. All-American guard Moriah Jefferson stated, "They fought and continued to play even when their shots didn't fall." During head coach Steve Gomez's postgame interview, National Player of the Year Breanna Stewart politely interrupted him to wish LCU the best of luck and complimented his team's effort.
 
It is evident the Lady Chaps gained many memories during their time in Connecticut. Despite the final difference on the scoreboard, the essence of winning at the highest level is one similarity the team hopes is infectious.