LAREDO, Texas (February 28, 2015) – It was not the ending Lubbock Christian University wanted to have closing out the careers of seniors Haley Burton and Callie Sandusky. Needing a win to clinch the final spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament, Texas A&M International University received 31 points from Jessica Prieto and the Dustdevils upset No.19 LCU 68-60 in the Lady Chaps 2014-2015 season fina-le Saturday. It marks the first time LCU has had consecutive conference losses since December of 2010.

LCU jumped out early, taking a 10-2 lead, but things would go downhill from that point. TAMIU respond-ed with an 8-0 run and tied the game 10-10. There would be three lead changes in the opening half. TA-MIU, leading 23-22 with eight minutes remaining in the opening half, went on a 9-0 run, with Prieto con-necting on five of the points. TAMIU used six three-pointers in the first half, going 6-for-13 (46.2%) from downtown for a 33-26 halftime lead.

Haley Fowler opened the second half with a layup for LCU, but TAMIU responded with a 6-0 runoff a pair of Prieto's six three-pointers in the game to take a 41-30 lead in the second half. LCU would go onto hold TAMIU scoreless on nine consecutive possessions and cut the deficit to 48-46 with nine minutes remaining. Burton knocked down a free-throw with 2:35 left to cut the deficit to 60-57, but LCU closed the game 1-for-5 from the field the rest of the game and was unable to clinch sole possession of first place in the Heartland Conference.

The Lady Chaps have already clinched at least a share of the conference's regular season title, but they can have sole possession of the title if Arkansas – Fort Smith loses to Rogers State Sunday or the game is not played. The two teams were scheduled to play Saturday, but it was postponed due to winter weather.

Prieto was solid for TAMIU. She became the third opposing player to score at least 30 points against LCU since the 2010 season. She was 11-of-24 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range. She also had five assists and three steals. TAMIU also received 10 points each from Keiona Mathews and Jessica Woo. TAMIU, closing the regular season 13-13 (9-9 in conference) was 11-of-22 (50%) from three-point range as a team (well above their team average of 29%). It marked the third time an LCU opponent knocked down at least 10 three-pointers against them this season (0-3 in those games).

Burton capped a solid LCU career with 21 points for her 11th career game of at least 20 points. She closed out her 122-game career (118 starts) with 1,328 points. Burton finished her career ranking third in three-pointers (204) and assists (439) in program history. This season, Burton completed the season with 184 assists for the fifth highest single-season mark in program history. In her four active playing sea-sons, Burton helped LCU combine for a 100-22 overall record and a 65-11 conference record. Sandusky also closed out her LCU career appearing in the first half for her 53rd career appearance.

Along with Burton's 21 points, LCU received 14 points from Fowler and 12 points from Kellyn Schneider, who was a rebound (9) shy of a double-double. Schneider recorded two blocks to finish the season with 113 blocks, which is a program and conference single-season record.  LCU was without head coach Ste-ve Gomez Saturday, who was stranded in north Texas. He went to attend his son's high school basket-ball playoff game, but the winter storm affecting the area kept him from travelling back to rejoin the team.

LCU, in their final season of transitioning to full membership status in NCAA Div. II, is not eligible for postseason play. They conclude their season 21-7 overall and 15-3 in conference.