LUBBOCK, Texas (March 2, 2019) – No.25 Lubbock Christian University closed out their Heartland Conference era going 49-0 at home in Heartland Conference play with a 72-44 victory over St. Edward's University Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps conclude the regular season with a 23-5 record and they extend their NCAA Division II active-leading home win streak to 64 games, which is tied for the third-longest in NCAA Division II history.
The Lady Chaps had a slow start to the game, hitting just on of their first five field goal attempts, but then went on a massive run. They closed the first half 12-of-18 (67%) from the field. LCU had an 11-0 run carry over from the first to second quarter, which was part of a 29-4 scoring run for LCU. Lubbock Christian ended the first half making their last eight two-point field goal attempts and led 38-13 at the break. They held SEU to 16% shooting from the field (4/25) in the first half, while LCU was 56.5% (13/23) from the field in the half.
Maddi Chitsey, who led LCU with 17 points, had 15 points in the first half off 5-of-7 shooting (2-of-2 from three-point range).
LCU was able to cruise in the second half. Despite shooting 33.3% (6/18) in the third quarter, LCU still managed to outscore SEU in the quarter 17-12 and built their lead to 55-25 heading into the final quarter.
Every Lady Chap played at least three minutes in the second half and no player played over 12 minutes of the half. Ten different Lady Chaps produced at least two points in the half. Each of the 13 Lady Chaps members scored at least two points in the game, 12 different Lady Chaps had at least one rebound (LCU out-rebounded SEU 40-24) and nine different LCU members had at least one assist (eight had at least two assists as LCU assisted on 22 of their 26 field goals).
Chitsey was LCU's lone player in double figures in points.
Olivia Robertson led all players with eight rebounds and tied a game-high in assists with four.
SEU, led by Lexi Cunningham's 15 points, had not allowed more than six three-pointers in a game since allowing seven in each of their first two games of the season. Saturday, LCU lit up the perimeter with 10 three-pointers. Chitsey (2-of-2),
Allie Schulte (2-of-4) and
Caitlyn Cunyus (2-of-5) were each responsible for two three-pointers and made up three of LCU's seven players with at least one three-pointer in the game.
LCU closed the regular season with a 13-1 conference record. Their all-time Heartland Conference record is completed at 92-8 (92%). LCU heads into the Lone Star Conference next season.
TURNING POINT
Each team started slow, but LCU revved up their offense with 10-of-14 shooting performance following their 1-of-5 start from the field. They had four three-pointers in the string of 10 field goals, with
Maddi Chitsey connecting on a pair of back-to-back attempts. While they had the hot hand, SEU was unable to get into an offensive groove. They were held to four field goals in the first half and made three field goals over their first 24 attempts.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
With 5:56 remaining in the game,
Juliana Robertson subbed in
Olivia Robertson and
Maddi Chitsey entered in for
Bobbi Chitsey. The substitutions were made to a standing ovation, as it marked the final time the two Lady Chap seniors would step off the Rip Griffin Center hardwood in a regular season game. The pair of seniors, who are the last remaining active players off LCU's 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship squad, have combined to go 108-17 in their four seasons with the Lady Chaps, which includes a 57-5 record in Heartland play and 57-0 record in home games.
WHAT'S NEXT
Tournament time for LCU. They head to the Heartland Conference Tournament Wednesday in Tulsa, Okla., where they will open the eight-team single-elimination tournament Thursday facing No.8-seed Texas A&M International. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
