COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 29, 2019) – There were no losers Friday night inside Alumni Hall for the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship, but there was a winner… Lubbock Christian University's Maddi Chitsey nailed a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left to force the first-ever double overtime contest in the history of the NCAA Division II title game, and the No.5-seed Lady Chaparrals outscored No.2-seed Southwestern Oklahoma State 20-10 in the second overtime to pull off a 95-85 upset win for their third upset-win of the tournament and their second NCAA Division II national championship title in program history.
 
LCU had trailed for 4:22 of the five-minute first overtime. Bethany Franks connected on a three-pointer 21 seconds into the first overtime, proving the Lady Bulldogs much of the first overtime momentum. LCU's lone seniors, Bobbi Chitsey and Olivia Robertson, each connected on streaking shots down low and their 4-0 run provided LCU a 72-71 lead with 35 seconds left. The lead was brief, as Franks got SWOSU the lead back with a field goal with 21 seconds remaining. Following an LCU turnover, LCU was forced to foul, and they put Taber Beer to the line. Beer hit both free-throws, sending the Lady Bulldogs faithful in attendance into a frenzy as they led 75-72 with 11 seconds remaining.
 
The Lady Chaps had they shot they wanted, with Olivia Robertson slipping behind a screen on the right side of the perimeter and launching an open three-point attempt. It hit off the back-iron and did not go in. The rebound carried all the way to the right-elbow, where Allie Schulte leaped for the offensive rebound. She tossed it to the right corner, where Maddi Chitsey was waiting. Chitsey completed an open step-back three-pointer and it went in with 2.5 seconds left, sending the fourth NCAA Division II title game overtime to a first double overtime.
 
SWOSU attempted to open the second overtime as they did the first, with a three-pointer, but their first two attempts were unsuccessful. They ended up missing their first seven attempts, which LCU capitalized on. LCU, who closed the game making their final five field goal attempts (eight of their last nine, with Robertson's three-point miss serving as the lone miss) received a jumper and three-point from Robertson and it ignited a 10-0 run for LCU. The Lady Chaps cruised from there, outscoring SWOSU 20-10 in the second overtime.
 
The Lady Bulldogs had four sequences in the game in which they missed at least six consecutive shots (LCU never missed more than four consecutive shots at any point throughout the game). The biggest dry spell for SWOSU came at the opening tip of the contest. LCU opened the game on a 10-0 run and an early time out allowed SWOSU to prevent any further immediate damage. Bailey Tucker got SWOSU back into the game. She drew a foul on a three-point play in the closing seconds of the first quarter, cutting LCU lead to 17-11 at quarter's end. SWOSU trailed by six points despite shooting 11.8% (2-of-17) in the quarter.
 
Tucker had two of the five Lady Bulldogs three-point makes in the second quarter quarter. A 19-4 SWOSU run in the second quarter allowed them to take a 33-26 lead into the dressing room. Tucker opened the third quarter with a three-pointer (a string of three-straight made from long range) building the advantage to 10 (36-26). The Lady Bulldogs would then go 4-of-17 from the field (23.5%) and LCU would rattle off a 15-0 run covering a span of three minutes and LCU regained the lead at 41-36. LCU would outscore SWOSU 29-16 in the quarter to head into the fourth quarter leading 56-49.
 
LCU struggled from the field in the fourth quarter. They closed regulation making two of their last nine attempts. Neither team had a field goal in the final 80 seconds. LCU only had one shot attempt taken in the span, while SWOSU had a pair of unsuccessful attempts, which led to the game carrying into overtime.

Southwestern Oklahoma State fell short of claiming their first NCAA Division II in program history. Their season ended at 35-2. Hailey Tucker posted 30 points and 16 rebounds in a double-double performance, which led to All-Tournament Team honors. Tucker's points and rebounds were the highest posted against the Lady Chaps (in each category) this season. They also received 25 points from Franks and 12 points from Hayden Priddy.
 
LCU received a double-figures from five players, with Maddi Chitsey leading all Lady Chaps with a double-double consisting of 22 points and 13 rebounds. Olivia Robertson led LCU with 24 points. Schulte finished with 17 points and Bobbi Chitsey and Caitlyn Cunyus each had 10 points. Cunyus also tied a career high with seven rebounds. Schulte finished 1-of-2 from three-point range and finished the season 60-of-116 from three-point range (51.7%) setting a program single-season record for three-point percentage.
 
Chitsey and Robertson claimed All-Tournament Team members for the tournament, with Robertson claiming Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Robertson averaged 17.7 points per game. Chitsey averaged 22.3 points per game at the tournament.
 
Robertson was playing in her 124^th career game, sitting a new Heartland Conference record for career games (Nicole Hampton holds the LCU record at 129). She finished her LCU career with 1,107 career points. Over her LCU career, Robertson compiled an 87.3% career free-throw shooting percentage, which ranks third all-time in LCU program history. Bobbi Chitsey also concludes her LCU playing career. She competed in 122 career games (tied for third place on the Heartland Conference career list of games played). Chitsey compiled 892 career points.  The pair of seniors, who are each All-Conference selections this season, have a four-year record of 117-17 (87.3%), which includes a 57-5 conference record, and they went 58-0 in home games.
 
The championship is the second in program history. The Lady Chaps, who completed the season 32-5, claimed their first national title in 2015-16, which was their first season eligible for NCAA postseason play. LCU is ninth team in NCAA Division II to win multiple national titles in women's basketball. Lady Chaps head coach Steve Gomez becomes the seventh head coach in NCAA Division II women's basketball history to claim multiple titles.
 
LCU's title in women's basketball is the 16^th national title for all programs. The university has 11 national titles among their running programs, while baseball (two) and softball join the two titles in women's basketball to account for the 16 titles.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU's road to the title involved ending 35-game win streaks to each of their final two opponents. Drury (semifinal game) was 35-0 before falling to LCU and SWOSU lost their season opener before winning 35 straight games until losing to the Lady Chaps Friday. Speaking of 35, LCU's first national title was off a 35-0 season.