COMMERCE, Texas (January 30, 2020) – At the end of the day, an 18-point deficit was too much to overcome for No.8 Lubbock Christian University. Allie Schulte posted a career-high five three-pointers and LCU turned an 18-point deficit into a one-point game in the final minute before eventually falling 59-54 to No.3 Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday night inside A&M-Commerce Field House.
 
Using a 10-0 run and a late three-pointer by Dyani Robinson in the second quarter, the Lions took a 39-21 lead into the halftime break. LCU, facing their largest deficit since Nov. 24, 2017 (vs. Ashland), found a way to come back.
 
Overall, LCU held A&M-Commerce to four field goals the entire second half. They were held to one in the third quarter, as LCU outscored TAMUC 24-10 in the third quarter. LCU hit a string of seven consecutive field goals, with five straight makes opening the second half. Schulte connected on three three-pointers inside the opening three minutes of the quarter, and Ashton Duncan added one as well to open the quarter on a 14-5 run. LCU even had a span in which they missed six straight field goal attempts before regrouping to close the quarter on a 10-0 run to cut their deficit to 49-45. Maddi Chitsey had eight of the 10 points during the run.
 
Neither team shot well in the fourth quarter. LCU was 3-of-12 (25%) from the field in the quarter and TAMUC was 3-of-13 (23.1%). The Lions had a span of 10 missed shots, which lasted during a seven-minute span. Chitsey made a pair of free-throws with 5:19 remaining to put LCU back 54-52. LCU was able to get stops defensively and countered with opportunities, but four missed shot attempts and a turnover helped the Lions hold the lead. Emma Middleton scored a bucket with 35 seconds left to cut the deficit to 55-54. It would be as close as they would get, as LCU missed their final three shot attempts inside the final 17 seconds and fell.
 
Three of the five all-time meetings between LCU and TAMUC have come over the prior three seasons, and TAMUC has never shot over 30% against LCU. The Lions, who were held to a 21.7% shooting mark the last time the two teams met in Commerce (Nov. 13, 2017), finished Thursday's game shooting 29.9% from the field (20/67). It was the worst shooting performance by an LCU opponent in an LCU loss since St. Mary's defeated LCU Dec. 31, 2016 behind a 27% shooting mark.
 
A&M-Commerce's high-points came in the opening half. Schulte provided LCU a 12-7 lead less than seven minutes into the game with a three-pointer, but then it went downhill in a hurry for LCU. TAMUC responded with a 17-0 run and led 24-12 35 seconds into the second quarter.
 
LCU was plagued by the turnover battle. The Lions forced LCU in 17 turnovers, while committing seven. The mark was the highest margin between opponents (in which LCU had the highest turnover total) since they produced 22 turnovers and forced 11 at Newman (Feb. 21, 2019). The turnovers led to a 17-5 scoring advantage for TAMUC in points-off-turnovers.
 
The late shooting struggles while carrying the momentum had LCU finish 39.1% (18/46) from the field. They were out-rebounded 42-33 in the game, but Chitsey led all players with 11 rebounds to complete her second double-double of the season (14 points, 11 rebounds). Both double-doubles for Chitsey have come in losses this season.
 
Schulte finished the game with a career high in three-pointers (five) and was 5-of-6 from long range. She also matched a career high in blocks (two). The junior led LCU in scoring with 19 points in the contest.
 
Chania Wright led all Lions with 12 points. The Lions notched seven three-pointers in the game, with five produced in the first half.
 
While TAMUC improves to 20-0 overall and 14-0 in conference, LCU falls to 16-3 overall and their LSC mark goes to 10-3. The loss marks LCU's third consecutive road loss, matching their longest road losing streak since losing the opening three road tilts of last season.
 
TURNING POINT
Over a two-and-a-half minute stretch of the early portions of the third quarter, four of LCU's five straight field goal makes were three-pointers. Three of the field goals from long range were from Schulte, who was 4-of-5 from the field (3-of-4 from three-point range) in the third quarter. He finished with 11 points in the quarter.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
If there is a glowing connection to LCU's three losses it would be offensive rebounds allowed. Thursday's game had a twist, as the Lady Chaps struggled with offensive boards. Thursday, LCU was outscored 11-0 in second chance scoring. Since game-by-game specialty statistics have been kept on file (since 2009), no prior game was listed in which LCU was held scoreless in second-chance-scoring. In the prior two losses (to West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico), LCU had lows of two points in each game categorized by second-chance-points. Also in each loss, LCU has allowed their opponent to obtain at least 18 offensive rebounds.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU heads down the road to Tyler, Texas for their first-ever meeting against Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler). Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.