LUBBOCK, Texas (November 16, 2019) - A 22-2 run in the first half helped No.1 Lubbock Christian University overcome an early deficit and cruise past University of Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS) 76-44 Friday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center. The win closed the opening day of games at the TAJ Hospitality Classic and it marked the 400th career win for Lady Chaparrals head coach Steve Gomez.
 
UCCS's Abby Feickert made consecutive three-point field goal attempts in the opening 45 seconds of the game and 70 seconds in the Mountain Lions had an 8-0 lead over the Lady Chaps. Things went downhill from there for UCCS, as they would be held to two points over the next nine-and-a-half minutes. LCU went on a 22-2 run, which included four three-pointers. Maddi Chitsey connected on the last three-pointer in the sequence, giving LCU a 22-10 lead 32 seconds into the second quarter.
 
Chitsey ended up with 10 points in the opening half of play. LCU also received nine points from Laynee Burr in the first half, as LCU was 10-of-19 (52.6%) from the field in the second quarter to spark a 24-12 scoring advantage in the quarter and a 43-22 halftime lead.
 
The Lady Chaps, who connected on seven consecutive field goal attempts in the second quarter, jumped on another scoring surge in the third quarter. Ashton Duncan connected on a three-pointer for the first of four straight successful field goal attempts by the Lady Chaps. Burr capped the sequence with a three-pointer to also cap a 16-4 LCU run for a 59-26 lead.
 
Duncan was 3-of-6 from three-point range in the contest and converted on an attempt 2:11 into the fourth quarter to build LCU's lead to its largest, at 74-31. LCU went with their depth the rest of the way and UCCS closed the game on a 13-2 run, as LCU was 1-of-8 from the field during the span.
 
Chitsey led LCU with 16 points in the game. They also received a career-high 12 points from Burr, who was 5-of-6 from the field. Ashton Duncan (11 points) and Emma Middleton combined to go plus-61 in plus-minus, with Duncan going +34 in 17 minutes of playing time.
 
LCU had a 23-10 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. They connected on a season-high 12 three-pointers in the game. UCCS was 28.6% (18/63) from the field and were without any double-digit point producers.
 
The Lady Chaps improved to 3-0 on the season with the win, while UCCS dropped to 1-2. LCU extended the nation's active longest home win streak to 66 games.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU was 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the field during their 22-2 run, which shifted the early momentum of the game. LCU's defense held UCCS to eight consecutive field goal misses and the Mountain Lions were 1-of-14 (7.1%) during the same 22-2 LCU scoring stretch.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The victory was the 400^th in the coaching career for Steve Gomez (all at LCU). Gomez, in his 17^th season, improves his overall coaching record to 400-122 for a win percentage of 76.6%. LCU has won 14 consecutive games dating back to last season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The two programs that battled to a double-overtime decision at the NCAA Division II national championship game in Columbus, Ohio last season, meet again Saturday, as LCU hosts Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The Bulldogs are No.20 in Division II and head into the game with a 3-0 record on the season.