BELLINGHAM, Wash. (December 17, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University's first game ever played in Washington and against a Washington based program came Monday night inside Carver Gym, where Western Washington carried an 85% all-time win percentage. Olivia Robertson made LCU's presence felt in The Evergreen State, scoring 19 points in the second half and leading the Lady Chaparrals to a 16-3 scoring advantage in second-chance-scoring en route to a 67-54 win over WWU in the opening game of the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic.
 
LCU claimed their first road win of the season by producing turnovers, which is a category LCU has struggled with on the road and entered the game averaging 23.7 turnovers per road game and being outscored on an average of 33.3 – 8.7 in points off turnovers. Monday, LCU forced WWU into 27 turnovers and outscored the Vikings 23-10 in points-off-turnovers. The 27 turnovers were the most by a Lady Chaps opponent since Science & Arts (Okla.) committed 27 on Jan. 2, 2012. It was the most WWU since 27 on Dec. 29, 2017 against Alaska Fairbanks.
 
The Lady Chaps also excelled in the paint, where they outscored WWU 38-24 and had a 35-32 rebound advantage, with 15 offensive rebounds. It marks the first time this season a program topped the Vikings in rebounds, as the Vikings entered the game ranking third nationally rebounding margin (+13.8) and they had not had a rebound margin less than a +7.0 mark this season.
 
The combination of offensive rebounds and forced turnovers led LCU to not only producing a 16-3 advantage in second-chance-scoring, but also providing the Lady Chaps 18 more (62-44) field goal attempts in the game. The Lady Chaps needed the additional shot attempts, as they shot 38.7% (24/62) from the field (their second lowest mark this season) and overcame a 45.5% (20/44) shooting performance by the Vikings (WWU was 57.1% shooting inside the arc).
 
While LCU's offensive numbers were below their team percentages, the same could not be said for Robertson, who was 7-of-15 from the field. She was 2-of-2 from long range and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line during her performance. Her biggest buckets in the game were off three-pointers hit in the fourth quarter. LCU had entered the fourth quarter leading 49-40, but a 9-2 Vikings run cut LCU's lead to 51-49 with 6:31 remaining. The score remained 51-49 for the next 88 seconds until Robertson buried a three-pointer with 5:02 left for a 54-49 LCU lead. Robertson answered again with the game down to a one-possession game with 3:07 left, which turned a 54-51 lead into a 57-51 advantage. LCU's defense did their part, not allowing a field goal over the final 2:42, and the Lady Chaps completed the game on an 8-0 run.
 
The start of the game was back-and-fourth. Nearly halfway into the first quarter, LCU led 8-3, but WWU came back with a 10-4 run to end the quarter with a 13-12 lead. The Vikings never led by more than three points and LCU went on a 13-3 run to regain the lead in the second quarter with a 32-24 advantage. WWU closed the half on a 5-0 run to place LCU's lead at 32-29 for the break.
 
Robertson had six of LCU's first eight points to start the second half, and her free-throws 2:31 into the third quarter not only extended LCU's lead to 36-31, but it also ignited a 7-0 LCU run. LCU led as much as 49-36 (2:27 left in the third quarter) before LCU went on a 4:19 scoreless sequence.
 
LCU, receiving 24 points off their bench, and WWU combined to have 15 different players produce at least one field goal in the game. Kelsey Rogers (6-of-7 from the field) was WWU's only player with double-figures, scoring 14 points. The Vikings, 3-of-7 from long range in the first half, was 1-of-9 in the second half.
 
Robertson was one of three Lady Chaps to finish in double figures, finishing with 23 points. Maddi Chitsey, 14 points in 17 minutes off 6-of-8 shooting, and Allie Schulte (10 points) contributed into the offensive mix for LCU. Defensively, LCU had 14 steals (second highest total this season), with Bobbi Chitsey swiping a career-high five steals (second highest single game high for a Lady Chaps member this season).
 
The Lady Chaps improved to 1-3 in road games this season and 8-4 overall. It also ended a two-game losing skid.
 
TURNING POINT
Olivia Robertson's three-point field goals made in the fourth quarter were each with LCU leading by three-or-less points. The Vikings offense went cold after Robertson's three-pointer with 3:07 remaining to put LCU ahead 57-51. WWU went the final 3:07 1-of-6 from the field, missing their final five shots from the field. They also were 1-of-4 from the free-throw line during that span. WWU had opened the game 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, but went 3-of-8 the rest of the way.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Olivia Robertson, posting her third road game of at least 20 points, was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line in the game. It marks the fourth time this season she has done 5-of-5 or better from the charity stripe. Three of the four occasions have been on the road, where she is a 94.1% free-throw shooter (32/34).
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
LCU remains at Carver Gym Tuesday and will face Simon Fraser at 7 p.m. (Central) to complete their stay at the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic.