LUBBOCK, Texas (January 18, 2018) – No.3 Lubbock Christian University held St. Edward's University to seven points in the first half and closed the half on a 25-0 run to bolt out to a 64-31 Heartland Conference win behind a 15-point performance from Bobbi Chitsey Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU became the 15th program in NCAA Division II history to reach 44 consecutive home wins, with the victory, which also extended their streak of consecutive conference home wins to 46 wins (40-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home wins).
 
LCU held the defending Heartland Conference champs to two field goals and seven points in the opening half of play. The seven points was the fewest allowed in a half by LCU since holding Dallas Christian to six points in the first half on Nov. 4, 2008.  In the second quarter, SEU was 0-of-12 from the field and was outscored 25-1 in the quarter.  The one point allowed by LCU was the fewest allowed in a quarter by LCU since the NCAA adopted quarters last season. The prior low was three tallied by Lenoir-Rhyne in the third quarter of a meeting on Nov. 26, 2016.
 
Overall, SEU was held to 11 field goals in the game. Seven of the 11 were two point field goals.  It marks the second consecutive game in which the opposition has been held to 11 field goals. Prior to LCU holding Rogers State to 11 field goals (Jan. 10), the Lady Chaparrals had not held a team to 11 field goals since holding Texas – Permian Basin to 11 on Mar. 3, 2016. LCU held RSU to six two-point field goals and held SEU to seven two-point field goals.
 
Despite the Hilltoppers shooting woes early, the game started off close, as LCU was 2-of-7 from the field to start the game.  LCU did build a 9-1 lead, but SEU made a pair of field goals after missing their opening 10 attempts to cut the deficit to 9-6. The two field goals would be SEU's only field goals of the half.  They opened the second quarter with a free throw from Abby Hopper to cut LCU's lead to 9-7, but LCU responded with a 25-0 run to close the half. LCU was 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the field during the run. Six Lady Chaps contributed to the run, led by six points from Chitsey.
 
SEU missed 15 consecutive field goal attempts and was 2-of-27 (7.4%) from the field in the first half. Meanwhile, LCU, shooting 60% (9-of-15) in the second quarter, was 52% (13/25) from the field in the half and was led by nine points from Maddi Chitsey.
 
A different SEU team showed up in the second half. The Hilltoppers went on a 4-of-5 shooting stretch, which included a pair of three-pointers. Lexi Cunningham, who had eight points in the third quarter, hit a three to bring SEU within 19 (34-15), but it is as close as they would get. LCU outscored SEU 11-8 in the remainder of the quarter and took a 45-23 lead into the final quarter.
 
Freshmen Ashton Duncan (six points) and Madelyn Turner (four points) combined for 10 points in the fourth quarter, as LCU went to their bench for most of the fourth quarter. LCU had a stretch making six of eight shots to lead as much as 36 points (64-28). Cunningham hit a long three-pointer inside the final 15 seconds to put SEU over the 30-point mark in the game.
 
Making three of their last six shot attempts helped place SEU over the 20-percent shooting mark, as they finished the game 20.8% (11/53) from the field. The 31 points was the lowest SEU has produced since Angelo State held them to 26 points in a 53-26 loss on June 7, 2007. The points were also the fewest allowed by LCU since holding Arlington Baptist to 30 on Nov. 20, 2012.
 
LCU received three-pointers from six different individuals in the game and finished the game 10-of-19 (52.6%) from downtown. Bobbi Chitsey finished the game with a season high 15 points. She (2-of-2) combined with Caitlyn Cunyus (3-of-3) and Duncan (2-of-2) to go 7-of-7 from long range. Cunyus was 5-of-5 overall from the field to finish with 13 points.  The Lady Chaps also received a solid night on the boards.  With a 45-28 rebounding edge, LCU's +17 rating marked the fourth consecutive game in which LCU has produced a rebound margin of at least +13.
 
LCU improved to 6-0 all-time in Lubbock against SEU (10-6 advantage all-time). The Lady Chaps move to 16-1 overall and 5-0 in conference. SEU dropped to 9-9 overall and they have a 3-3 conference mark.
 
TURNING POINT
Trailing 9-6, SEU's Isabel Hernandez attempted a three-point shot to open the second quarter.  The shot rattled in and out and SEU was unable to tie the contest.  LCU went on to rack up a 25-point second quarter and it put the game out of reach with 25 consecutive points to close out the half.    
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Each team had 11 offensive rebounds, but SEU was unable to to score any second chance points in the game. It was the first time this season LCU, 15-0 scoring edge in the category, was able to prevent any second chance points from their opponent. LCU (6-of-7) and SEU (5-of-10) combined for 11 points from the free-throw line. The 11 combined points from the line are the fewest since LCU and Texas A&M International combined for 11 points from the line (eight by LCU) on Feb. 2, 2017.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home Saturday and will host Oklahoma Christian University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.