SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (November 25, 2016) – Freshman Caitlyn Cunyus had her coming out party Friday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Coliseum, but unfortunately her 14 points in the second half was one of the few bright spots for the bullied Lady Chaparrals, as No. 19 Grand Valley State used a 17-8 scoring advantage in points of turnovers and handed No.24 Lubbock Christian a 52-45 loss in LCU's opening game of the Puerto Rico Clasico.
 
Cunyus, coming off the heels of her season debut Monday, shot an air-ball in her first shot attempt, as she made her first appearance Friday in the third quarter. The air-ball did not phase her, as she followed going 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 the rest of the way from long range. She turned out to be LCU's lone player in double figures, as the rest of the Lady Chaps roster combined to go 34.3% from the field.
 
She entered the game in the third quarter, as the Lakers were going on a 15-4 run, which included an 8-0 outburst to take a 35-23 lead over the Lady Chaps with 4:40 remaining in the quarter. In the final 2:38 of the quarter, she ended the Lakers run with eight points, and also garnered a steal with four seconds remaining and heaved a lead pass to Olivia Robertson to lay in at the horn. The bucket capped 12-2 LCU run to end the quarter to cut their deficit to 37-35 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Cunyus hit three three-pointers in the game and two came in the fourth quarter. She hit one to answer a three-pointer by GVSU's Bailey Cairnduff early in the quarter and it helped LCU have their closest opportunity in the quarter. Trailing 42-40 midway through the quarter, LCU had the basketball, but went 0-for-2 with shot attempts on the possession and was unable to erase the deficit. LCU, who was held to three field goals the entire fourth quarter (two by Cunyus) went 1-for-5 during the final five minutes, while the Lakers pulled away.
 
If the term smashmouth basketball existed, it would resemble the majority of the game, and primarily the first half. Neither team could get in a shooting groove and combined for 32 points in the first half. LCU did not have their first field goal until 3:40 remained in the first half. GVSU came out swarming defensively and the tempo was physical as only 10 combined fouls were whistled in the first half (teams combined for 17 turnovers in the first half, with 12 by LCU). Only five points from the first half were scored from the line. The game concluded with a total of 25 combined fouls called and 23 free-throw attempts (combined). The average in LCU's prior five games was an average of 32.4 combined fouls and 32.4 combined free-throw attempts.
 
Each team shot at least 50% in the second half after shooting under 28% in the first half. LCU shot 52.4% (11/21) in the second half and was 10-of-16 (62.5%) in the half before closing the game 1-of-5 from the field. They finished the game 39.5% from the field (17/43).
 
Cunyus was the lone Lady Chap in double figures, with her 14 points. Olivia Robertson led all players with a career high 10 rebounds. Tess Bruffey, who has toyed around with double-doubles in the games she has appeared in this season, was held to three points from the field, which was her lowest total from the field since scoring two points against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Jan. 29, 2015. Janae Langs led the Lakers with a game-high 15 points. They also received 13 points from Bailey Cairnduff and 11 points from Kayla Dawson.
 
The loss drops LCU to 3-3 on the season and they remain winless (0-3) when playing away from home this season. GVSU improved to 3-1 on the season.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU stormed back from a 12-point deficit in the second half, cutting the deficit to 42-40 with 6:51 remaining, but a 7-0 run by the Lakers interrupted any comeback thoughts by the Lady Chaps.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
With 14 points leading all Lady Chaps, Cunyus became the first Lady Chaps freshman to lead the team in scoring in a game since Tess Bruffey recorded 19 points as a freshman on Feb. 14, 2015 against Rogers State.
 
NEXT
The Lady Chaps remain in San Juan for their final day of play in the Puerto Rico Clasico. They face Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 9:30 a.m. locally in PR and 7:30 a.m. Central.