LAWTON, Okla. (December 8, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit with a 15-0 run, only to let a seven-point lead slip away in the final four minutes, as the Lady Chaparrals remained winless on the road (0-3) with a 66-62 loss at Cameron Saturday afternoon inside Aggie Gym.
 
Trailing 49-41 with 8:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, LCU ended a 5-0 Cameron run and overcame their largest deficit of the game with a 15-0 run to take a 56-49 lead for LCU's first and largest lead of the game. The Lady Chaps run covered a span of 4:02 and they were 6-of-7 from the field in the span, with five of the points coming from Bobbi Chitsey.
 
Cameron entered the game ranking second nationally in three-pointers per game (10.9) and had five three-pointers in the contest heading into the fourth quarter. The Aggies three-point offense came alive in the fourth quarter when they needed it the most. Natalie Halbleib hit her first three-pointer of the game with four minutes remaining in the game to end LCU's 15-0 run. Ava Battese followed with back-to-back three-pointers, and her first three-pointers of the game tied the game at 60-60 with 1:06 left. LCU regained the lead with 34 seconds left, as Allie Schulte received a backdoor-feed from Chitsey and played it in off the glass for a 62-60 advantage.
 
The Aggies committed an inbounds violation on the ensuing possession following Schulte's field goal, giving LCU the basketball. Caitlyn Cunyus' inbounds for the Lady Chaps deflected off the bottom of the backboard and Cameron took over the possession, leading to Halbleib nailing a three-pointer to take a 63-62 lead with 26 seconds left. Olivia Robertson missed a jumper with 18 seconds left, leading to LCU fouling Battese to place her at the line. She split the trip and LCU trailed 64-62 with an inbounds set with 10.5 seconds remaining. LCU got the ball to Robertson, who had a good inside look, but her runner in the paint went in-and-out with five seconds left. Parfitt McNair was fouled and she hit both free-throws to seal the win.
 
The Lady Chaps had overcome two eight-point deficits in the game. Cameron opened the game with a 5-0 run and never trailed for the opening 34:25 of the game. Both teams shot at least 50% in the first quarter (CU was 8-of-15, 53.3%) and the Aggies led 19-18 after the first quarter. LCU went the first 5:04 of the second quarter without a field goal and fell behind 24-19. A 6-1 Cameron run extended their lead to 33-25 before LCU closed out the half on a 4-0 run to place the Cameron lead to 33-29 at the half.
 
LCU rallied back with a 6-0 run in the third quarter to tie the game at 35-35 for the first of three occurrences the score would be tied in the quarter. The Lady Chaps never took the lead in the quarter and Cameron's Maighan Hedge connected on two straight three-pointers to give the Aggies a 47-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Cameron finished the game 39.1% (9-of-23) from three-point range in the game, closing the game making six of their last nine attempts (67%) spanning the final 11:37 of the game (they were 3-of-14, 21.4%, in the game before Hedge's two straight makes started their 6-of-9 stretch to end the game). Hedge made three of Cameron's three-pointers and finished the game with 11 points. Lejha Smith led the Aggies with 12 points and Halbleib added 10 points.
 
LCU was led by a game-high 16-point performance from Olivia Robertson. LCU also received a season-high 14 points from Chitsey, who led LCU with seven rebounds.
 
The Lady Chaps fell to 2-9 all-time against Cameron and 0-6 all-time in Lawton, where LCU was playing for the first time since 2000. The Lady Chaps dropped to 7-4 overall on the season and 0-3 in road games. It is their worst road start since opening the 2016-17 season 0-5 in road games. LCU's loss also marks consecutive overall losses for the first time since December of 2016.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU had the momentum after a Allie Schulte layup and an ensuing turnover by Cameron on the inbounds with 34 seconds left. Leading 62-60, LCU's inbounds under the basket in their frontcourt by Caitlyn Cunyus hit the bottom of the backboard, leading to a turnover. One resulting in Natalie Halbleib adding three points to the points-off-turnovers category with a three-pointer, which washed away LCU's lead with 26 seconds left. Points-off-turnovers has doomed LCU on the road and Saturday was no different. LCU committed 19 turnovers in the game, leading to Cameron outscoring them 22-10 in points off turnovers. LCU has now been outscored 91-26 in points-off-turnovers in road games this season (an average of 33.3 – 8.7 per road game).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Lady Chaps had fits with the basketball trailing (or tied) by three points or less.  On possessions in which LCU trailed (or tied) by three points or less, they were 6-of-24 (25%) from the field with 10 turnovers. They were 1-of-11 (9.1%) from the field with seven turnovers in the first half in the category. LCU was 18-of-28 (64.3%) from the field with nine turnovers outside of those possessions.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Whether it's back to the drawing board or getting some rest, LCU has a mild break. They will not return to the hardwood until Monday, Dec. 17, as they will face Western Washington in Bellingham, Wash. to open the Vikings Holiday Hoops Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (Central).