TYLER, Texas (February 1, 2020) – No.8 Lubbock Christian University relied on 60% shooting in the second half and utilized a combined 38 points (19 each) from Maddi Chitsey and Ashton Duncan to end a three-game road losing streak with a 73-55 win over UT-Tyler Saturday afternoon inside Louise Herrington Patriot Center.
 
Duncan was on fire from outside in the game, going a 6-of-8 from downtown, with the six three-pointers marking a career high. The six treys were the most by a Lady Chap since Tess Bruffey connected with six against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 7, 2017.
 
She opened the game 4-of-4 from outside in the opening quarter of play. While she was perfect from the field in the quarter, her teammates were a combined 2-of-11. All four Duncan three-pointers were the opening buckets of the game for LCU, who led 12-2 after her fourth made shot (in the opening 6:25 of the game). LCU led 16-6 after the first quarter.
 
Maddi Chitsey, who matched a career high with 17 field goal attempts, had seven attempts in the second quarter and led LCU with six points in the quarter. UT Tyler closed the half on a 7-1 run cutting LCU's lead to 28-23 at the halftime break. Duncan led LCU with 13 points in the opening half. She was the only Lady Chap dialed in from outside, as while she was 4-of-4 in the half, five of her teammates (the rest with an attempt) were a combined 0-of-10 from long range in the half. Meanwhile, LCU was 50% (7-of-14) from inside the arc in the half.
 
The second half opened with a momentum change in the contest, as the Patriots made six consecutive field goal attempts in a span in which they opened the half outscoring LCU 12-5 to take a 35-32 lead. Caitlyn Cunyus responded with a rhythm for LCU, as she had a layup and later a three-pointer during a 9-0 LCU run to take a 42-35 lead.
 
The Lady Chaps had a string of seven straight field goals made. They closed the third quarter on a 6-0 run (led 51-43 at the end of the third quarter) and it was part of an eventual 16-5 run for a 61-48 advantage. Cunyus had another three-pointer in that run, with the run also aided by a Laynee Burr three-point-play. The Lady Chaps closed the game on a 7-0 run, with Cunyus connecting on a third three-pointer of the half to cap a 15-point second half.
 
LCU was 18-of-30 (60%) from the field in the second half, going 13-of-19 (68.4%) inside the arc. Chitsey, who was 9-of-15 inside the arc, matched Duncan with a game-high 19 points, and they were half of LCU's double-digit point producers. Cunyus (15 points) and Allie Schulte (11 points) joined the pair offensively. Schulte also had six assists and four steals.
 
The Patriots, in their first season at the Division II level after spending last season at NCAA Division III, received 12 points from Kelsey Crouse. They shot 42.9% from the field, which was a season high by an LCU opponent, marking only their second opponent this season to finish above 40% from the field. They fell to 3-16 overall and 1-14 in LSC play.
 
LCU improved to 17-3 overall and 11-3 in conference. They are now 5-3 in road games this season.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's string of seven consecutive field goals, which started late in the third quarter was the turning point. UTT had tied the game at 42-42, as LCU followed with an old-fashioned three-point-play by Chitsey. She followed with another layup before Schulte had six points to carry through the 16-5 LCU run.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Thursday at Texas A&M-Commerce, LCU was outscored 11-0 in second-chance-scoring due to 18 offensive boards by the Lions. Saturday, LCU outscored the Patriots 8-3 in second-chance-scoring with an allowance of five offensive boards.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Chaps return home to host West Texas A&M Thursday night in a divisional showdown inside Rip Griffin Center (5:30 p.m. start).