LUBBOCK, Texas (January 2, 2020) – No.1 Lubbock Christian University used a 13-0 run in the opening quarter and an 18-point performance by Maddi Chitsey fueled a 42-16 scoring advantage in the paint, as LCU cruised to a 64-40 Lone Star Conference divisional win over Western New Mexico Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center. The win extended LCU's national active-leading home win streak to 70 consecutive games (58 straight conference home wins) and improved their overall mark to 12-0 on the season.
 
LCU's performance revolved around their defense. They held Western New Mexico to a 28.8% shooting mark (15/52) from the field, marking the third time this season LCU held an opponent to a shooting percentage under 30% at home. The 40 points tallied was the fewest by an LCU opponent this season and the fewest since LCU held Arkansas Fort Smith to 29 points on Feb. 14, 2019.
 
The defensive tone was set early. WNMU scored the first bucket of the game, but then missed their next eight field goal attempts, while LCU went on a 13-0 run to close the quarter with a 13-2 lead. The Mustangs were 1-of-11 (9.1%) from the field in the opening quarter. LCU had a sluggish quarter, going 6-of-18 (33.3%) from the field, but took advantage of seven forced turnovers and five offensive boards to mount up the scoring chances.
 
The Lady Chaps built their lead in the second quarter, using a 7-1 scoring advantage from the free-throw line in the quarter. LCU also used six points in the quarter from Laynee Burr, including an alley-oop style layup off a feed from Ashton Duncan to cap an 8-0 run to close the first half for a 33-12 LCU halftime lead. The Mustangs committed 11 turnovers in the first half, leading to a 12-5 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers.
 
LCU was quiet with their outside shooting, but in the third quarter, three-pointers by Caitlyn Cunyus and Duncan capped an 11-4 LCU run for a 43-16 lead. WNMU's Alicia Mardis, who entered the game leading the Mustangs offense, was held without a point until a field goal four minutes into the third quarter. She ended up with five points and all five were tallied in the third quarter. Mardis helped WNMU go on an 8-0 run in the quarter, cutting LCU's lead to 43-24. The run ended prior to the end-of-the-quarter horn, as Cunyus hit a runner prior to time expiring.
 
Chitsey and Madelyn Turner each had five points in the fourth quarter and the two poured all 10 points during a 10-3 LCU run for a 55-29 advantage with 5:20 remaining. The 10-3 run was part of 17-7 scoring stretch by LCU, which witnessed LCU taking their largest lead of the game (62-33) with 2:19 left. WNMU responded with a late 7-0 scoring run.
 
LCU finished the game with a 36-29 rebound advantage. Emma Middleton matched a career high for a second straight game with seven rebounds. Chitsey also had seven boards to go along with four assists. She was 8-of-12 from the field for her 18 points, which marked the fourth consecutive game in which she scored at least 16 points. Burr was LCU's only other player with at least 10 points.
 
Paulina Rodriguez led WNMU with 10 points and all 10 were scored in the second half. The Mustangs fell to 4-6 overall, 1-5 in conference and 0-2 in division play.
 
The Lady Chaps claimed their fifth consecutive win over WNMU in the all-time series. The Mustangs, who have not defeated LCU since Feb. 26, 1994, lead the all-time series 10-9. LCU, 6-0 in LSC play, is 2-0 in division contests.
 
TURNING POINT
Maddi Chitsey registered eight of her 18 points in the opening quarter of play, as she knocked down four consecutive LCU field goal attempts during the 13-0 run. She was 4-of-7 from the field in the quarter, while the rest of the Lady Chaps were a combined 2-of-11 (18.2%) from the field in the quarter.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU shot 65.6% during the game inside the arc, going 21-of-32. The success led to 42 points scored in the paint (LCU outscored WNMU 42-16 in the paint). The 42 points in the paint were a season high and the most since scoring 48 in the paint against North Georgia at the Elite Eight Tournament last season (Mar. 26, 2019).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home Saturday and will host Texas – Permian Basin inside Rip Griffin Center. The LSC divisional contest tips off at 1 p.m.