SAN ANTONIO, Texas (November 29, 2019) – Caitlyn Cunyus went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in overtime to cap a 17-point and nine-rebound performance to help No.1 Lubbock Christian University survive with a 68-63 overtime victory over Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon in their final game of the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic inside Bill Greehey Arena.
 
LCU would have been disappointed with a loss after leading for nearly 32 minutes (31:45) of the game, while trailing in less than six minutes of the contest. The game was decided from the free-throw line, as LCU went the final 3:28 of the fourth quarter without a field goal and went 2-of-4 in the final 3:27 from the line, while UCO went 3-of-4 from the line in the final 41 seconds to force overtime. UCO was without a field goal in the final 2:19 after bouncing back from a 57-52 deficit (from a 6-0 LCU run involving points all from Cunyus) with a pair of field goals to cut the LCU lead to 57-56 with 2:19 left.
 
UCO missed their final three field goal attempts in regulation in the final 2:19, while LCU was unsuccessful on two attempts in regulation over a span of 3:27 (all five shots to close the half by the combined two squads were all three-point attempts). Tied 59-59 in overtime, UCO won the tip and worked the ball inside to Kelsey Johnson, who scored on an and-one play resulting in LCU's Maddi Chitsey fouling out. At the time (26 seconds into overtime), Chitsey was leading LCU with 14 points. Johnson made the free-throw attempt and put the Bronchos up 62-59.
 
The Bronchos would go the final 4:34 of overtime without a field goal and scoring one point from the free-throw line. LCU had to climb from the three-point deficit with Ashton Duncan scoring their only field goal of overtime followed by a 7-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. Cunyus, who went 9-of-9 from the line in the game, was 6-of-6 from the line in overtime. Neither team had a field goal in the final 4:14 of the overtime/game.
 
Central Oklahoma's shooting dried up late. They missed their final seven field goal attempts and made one of their last 11 attempts. Heading into the fourth quarter, with the score tied 45-45, UCO went the final 15 minutes of the game 5-of-21 (23.8%) from the field. The Bronchos entered the fourth quarter 7-of-14 (50%) from three-point range (40% of their offense to that point had been produced from long range field goals), but they closed the game's final 15 minutes 0-of-10.
 
LCU's shooting depended on the score. While holding UCO to 32.4% (12/71) from field, LCU was 43.4% (23/53) shooting in the contest. Broken down, LCU was 4-of-15 (26.7%) from the field with seven turnovers during possessions in which they had a one-possession lead (lead of 1-3 points), but they were 10-of-17 shooting (58.9%) when the game was either tied or they trailed.
 
The lead changed hands nine times, but the first lead change did not take place until Johnson's jumper with 45 seconds in the first half sparked a 5-2 UCO run to end the half with a 30-27 lead over the Lady Chaps. LCU never trailed by more than three points, but let a nine-point lead in the second quarter, a four-point lead in the third quarter and a five-point lead in the fourth quarter slip away.
 
LCU closed the game on a 9-1 run with seven of the points from the line. They finished the game 17-of-22 (77.3%) from the line. Five different players went to the charity stripe for LCU and none of the five players missed more than two attempts. LCU had a 17-10 scoring advantage at the free-throw line in the game.
 
Cunyus' 17 points led all scorers. Allie Schulte (15 points) and Chitsey (14 points) also helped out offensively for LCU. The pair each had 10 points after the half. Cunyus matched a career high with nine rebounds for a third time, and all three times have occurred in a four-game span. LCU had a 7-0 advantage in blocks in the game, with Emma Middleton and Chitsey each recorded three blocks.
 
UCO, remaining without a regulation loss (6-2 on the season), received a double-double by Johnson in the loss. She had 16 points and 11 rebounds. McKenna Pulley finished with 11 points off the bench to aid the Bronchos offense.
 
The win was LCU's first-ever win over UCO. The two programs were meeting for just the second time all-time, and the first since Dec. 2, 2000. LCU completed their stay in San Antonio going 2-0 for the first time in the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic (third consecutive year participating in the tournament. LCU's 7-0 start is their best start since their 35-0 2015-16 national championship season.
 
TURNING POINT
UCO had a golden opportunity in the final 30 seconds, trailing 64-63, as McKenna Pulley had an open-look from the right-elbow and 27 seconds remaining. Her shot did not fall and Emma Middleton, who has a +7 on the plus/minus in overtime, grabbed her third rebound in overtime. Cunyus then sealed the win with free-throws, as she was 6-of-6 in pressure-filled free-throws in overtime. One game after Allie Schulte became the eighth Lady Chap to go 8-of-8 from the line since Jan. 16, 2014, Cunyus became the first Lady Chap to go 9-of-9 from the line since former Lady Chap Nicole Hampton's 14-of-14 performance from the line on Jan. 16, 2014.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UCO outscored LCU 11-9 in second chance scoring. A number that could have been much higher for UCO, as they produced 15 offensive rebounds. The Bronchos did take advantage of an 18-12 turnover advantage, which led to a 17-6 UCO scoring advantage. Combining the turnovers with the offensive boards, UCO had 18 more field goal attempts than LCU. That is the biggest margin by an LCU opponent since Arkansas Fort Smith had a 63-45 advantage in attempts against LCU on Mar. 4, 2018. Ironically UCO's Micayla Haynes, a UAFS transfer, played in both contests.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mix in the three exhibition games LCU played, and the Lady Chaps have played eight of 10 contests away from home. They finally return home to the Rip Griffin Center Thursday for their first Lone Star Conference home contest. The Lady Chaps host Texas Woman's University at 5:30 p.m. Following the contest, the Lady Chaps will receive their 2018-19 national championship rings in a ceremony to be held at halftime of the men's basketball contest that night.