TEXAS - PERMIAN BASIN (14-9, 8-7) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (20-5, 14-1)
Thursday, February 21 - 1:00 PM                                                    
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)  
Radio: Online Only                            
All-Time Series: LCU leads 14-0
Tweet #LCUvsUTPB

And then there was "one." One more home game remains and it is Saturday at 1 p.m. with Lubbock Christian University hosting University of Texas of the Permian Basin. It also means one remaining home game for LCU seniors Haley Burton and Callie Sandusky, who will be honored during halftime of the men's game. And probably the most important "one" is LCU's magic number is at "one" to grab at least a share of the Heartland Conference Regular Season title. LCU enters the game atop the Heartland Conference Standings with a record of 14-1, with Arkansas – Fort Smith behind them with a 13-3 record. It is important game for UTPB as well, as they are one of three teams tied with an 8-7 record. They are also one of five teams fighting for four spots in the Heartland Conference Tournament, which will be hosted by UAFS.

ABOUT UTPB
The Falcons are 14-9 overall and 8-7 in conference after defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State 76-59 Thursday in Goodwell, Okla. to improve to 7-5 on the road this season. UTPB is 4-6 in their last 10 games (6-1 in the seven-game stretch prior). Valerie Barriga is the pulse of the Falcons, leading the team in multiple categories, including ranking second in the conference with 17.4 points per game. They lead the conference averaging 7.5 three-pointers per game.      

THE SERIES AGAINST UTPB
LCU is 14-0 all-time against the Falcons. The Lady Chaps won the prior meeting this season 89-76 (Jan. 22) and the prior meeting in Lubbock (Feb. 22, 2014) 90-77.

THE LAST MEETING AGAINST UTPB
Jan. 22, 2015 (Odessa, Texas) - LCU: 89 / UTPB 76
Haley Fowler returned from injury with a game-high 22 points and joined teammate Allison Szabo (17 points) to combine for 39 points off the bench to lead Lubbock Christian University to an 89-76 Heartland Conference victory over University of Texas of the Permian Basin Thursday evening at Falcon Dome.

Fowler, LCU's scoring leader in average points, missed the prior six games due to an injury and was questionable entering the game, but early foul trouble on Tess Bruffey and Kellyn Schneider led to LCU head coach Steve Gomez giving Fowler an opportunity to test her ability. She had 10 points in eight minutes of play during the first half and was 5-of-5 from the field in the half.

LCU was 62.5% from the field (20/32) in the opening half and 67.8% shooting inside the arc. UTPB opened the game 1-of-13 from the field and LCU opened the game with a 15-7 lead. Blair Taylor hit one of the team's three three-pointers and the only one of the half during an 11-2 run late in the half to provide LCU a 38-20 lead. They led 48-25 at halftime.

The Falcons roared back after falling behind 50-25 early in the second half, out-scoring LCU 15-4 over the ensuing stretch to cut LCU's lead to 54-40. LCU would build the lead back to a comfortable margin, leading 80-57 with over six minutes remaining. UTPB would never cut LCU's lead to under a 13-point lead. Fowler helped LCU keep the edge, scoring 12 points in the second half.

The Lady Chaps finished the game 58.9% from the field (33/56) and holding UTPB to a 33.8% (24/71) shooting mark. LCU was 67% (30/45) inside the arc in the game. Fowler opened the game 7-of-7 from the field and ended the game 9-of-10 for her 22 points. It was her second game of her career in which she posted over 20 points. Szabo, like Fowler, was also used a lot off the bench in the paint because of fouls. She was 8-of-12 from the field. Schneider produced 12 points off a 5-of-5 shooting performance and Bruffey added 11 points.

Valerie Barriga, who was 12-of-12 from the free-throw line in the prior meeting between the squads, broke a Heartland Conference record going 15-of-15 from the line as part of her team-leading 21 points. The shooting mark snapped Nicole Hampton's conference record of 14-of-14 from last season at St. Edward's. Barriga is the first player this season in NCAA Div. II to be perfect with at least 15 free-throw attempts in a game. The Falcons also received 18 points from Myangel Johnson, 11 points from Giselle Loya and 10 points from Trish Simpson.