LAKEWOOD, Colo. (November 13, 2021) – No.1 Lubbock Christian University overcame a 16-point deficit, but despite 20 points from Ashton Duncan, LCU was unable to hold a marginal lead and suffered a 64-56 loss to Colorado State Pueblo Saturday afternoon at CCU Event Center on the campus of Colorado Christian. The loss snapped a 39-game win streak and was LCU's first loss since January 30, 2020 (at Texas A&M-Commerce).
 
LCU fell behind early, as they missed their first six field goal attempts and did not connect on a field goal until Grace Fosters shot from underneath the basket was tallied with 3:52 to go in the first quarter. Meanwhile, CSU Pueblo opened the game with Tomia Johnsona and JaNaiya Davis hitting consecutive three-point shots, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play by Davis. The Thunderwolves opened the game on a 12-0 run and by the time Foster's shot went through the net, LCU trailed 18-4. Duncan provided an LCU spark to end the quarter, converting a drive and popping a three-pointer in the final 43 seconds of the quarter for a 5-0 LCU run to cut CSU Pueblo's lead to 22-11.
 
As LCU had another slow start to a quarter, CSU Pueblo built the lead back to 26-11 with a 4-0 start to the quarter. Duncan finally got LCU on the scoreboard in the quarter with a long three-ball 2:06 into the frame. Her three-pointer was followed by a long-range connection from Channing Cunyus and it sparked an eventual 16-3 LCU run over a span of 6:45 to cut the Lady Chaps deficit to 29-27 with 1:09 left in the half. Duncan led LCU with 11 points at the half, but CSU Pueblo's 64.3% (9-of-14) first quarter shooting helped them to a 31-28 halftime lead.
 
Johnson, like the opening quarter, opened the second half draining a three-pointer 17 seconds into the half. This time, LCU responded early, and with a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Duncan. The three-pointer gave LCU a 35-34 lead and it was the first of eventual six lead changes in the game. Duncan had seven points in the quarter, including a layup with 4:12 remaining in the frame to give LCU a 41-36 lead. Amaya Lewis responded for the T'Wolves with consecutive field goals and CSU Pueblo regained the lead, 42-41, with 1:26 left in the quarter. Allie Schulte helped LCU match the run with a layup for a 45-42 LCU lead to end the quarter.
 
A busted play resulted in a loose ball into the hands of Alisha Davis, who flung a three-point attempt and drained it to tie the game 45-45 two minutes into the quarter. Duncan led off the LCU scoring in the fourth quarter with a layup to regain the lead at 47-45. That would turn out to be the final time LCU would lead. From circus shots, as the shot clock was expiring, to contested three-pointers made, CSU Pueblo went on a 10-0 run over a span of five minutes and led LCU 55-47 with 3:16 left. With 1:22 remaining, CSU Pueblo led 59-49 and LCU was able to cut the deficit to 59-54 40 seconds later. They had some outside chances at a comeback, with an intentional foul called on Johnson, but LCU had a trio of missed shots and a turnover inside the final minute and was unable to keep their win streak alive.
 
LCU (4-1) finished the game 35.3% (18/51) from the field, with Duncan finishing with 20 points off an 8-of-14 shooting performance. Schulte (12) and Cunyus (11) each finished in double figures in points. Outside of Duncan, LCU's starters produced 48% of their scoring (13 of 27 points) from the free-throw line, where LCU was 14-of-16 (87.5%) in the game.
 
CSU Pueblo (1-1) out-rebounded LCU 41-23 and did not allow LCU to have an offensive rebound. It led to CSU Pueblo outscoring LCU 18-6 in second-chance scoring. Alisha Davis led CSU Pueblo with an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. Johnson (14) and JaNaiya Davis (13) also combined for 27 points. The T'Wolves were 37.1% (23/62) from the field in the game, with 11 more shot attempts than LCU.
 
The meeting was the 11^th all-time meeting between the two programs and CSU Pueblo moved to 5-6 against LCU and ended the Lady Chaps three-game win streak in the series. Ironically, the last time CSU Pueblo defeated LCU was Nov. 12, 2016 in Denver, as LCU was coming off a national championship from the 2015-16 title.
 
TURNING POINT
For a span of 2:23, involving the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter, LCU led 45-42 and had three empty possessions. Two turnovers and a missed three-pointer from Juliana Robertson prevented LCU from increasing the lead. CSU Pueblo ended up with an offensive rebound high in the zone that was received by Alisha Davis, who tossed up a contested three-pointer and made it to tie the game 45-45. Duncan responded with a drive for a 47-45 lead, but the following Duncan missed a three-pointer, which would have put LCU up by three points with seven minutes remaining. Instead, the following possession resulted in another offensive rebound and Davis converting again with another contested three-pointer, which gave CSU Pueblo the lead for good and jump started a 10-0 run. Duncan's miss was the first of six consecutive missed attempts (along with two turnovers) LCU suffered through leading to the 10-0 run.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The loss was LCUs first loss since falling 59-54 to No.3 Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 30, 2020, and their first loss to an unranked team since losing 69-69 in overtime at Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 16, 2019 (LCU was ranked No.1 at the time of that loss as well). The last time LCU lost when leading to start the fourth quarter was Feb. 21, 2019 at Newman.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU finally heads home for their home opener, which is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. against Lander to open the Lady Chap Invitational, which features games against 2021 Elite Eight qualifiers Lander and Daemen (Saturday at 8 p.m.).