COMMERCE, Texas (January 13, 2022) – Freshman Grace Foster completed her first double-double of her collegiate career with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while also adding six blocks, but it was in a losing cause for No.2 Lubbock Christian University, as No.6 Texas A&M-Commerce closed the third quarter on a 9-0 run and squeezed past the Lady Chaparrals 66-62 Thursday night at A&M-Commerce Field House in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Lions, who trailed LCU 36-28 at the half, opened the second half on a 8-2 run, cutting their deficit to 38-36. Laynee Burr single-handedly held off the Lions, scoring the next five points over the next minute to build LCU's lead to 43-36 with 5:51 left in the third quarter. Allie Schulte, LCU's leading scorer who was held to five minutes in the first half (three fouls in the first quarter), tallied a field goal to put LCU up 49-44 with 2:31 left in the quarter, but the Lady Chaps would go scoreless the next 3:01. DesiRay Kernal, with five points from the free-throw line, helped the Lions close the first half on a 9-0 run for a 53-49 lead. TAMUC had not had a lead in the game until the run.
 
Once trailing, LCU was unable to regain the lead. Burr, who had nine of her 12 points in the second half, scored the game's first four points of the fourth quarter, tying the game at 53-53 1:14 into the quarter. A&M-Commerce responded with a 7-0 run. Dyani Robinson had four points of the run, which put the Lions up 60-53 with 6:08 remaining. Schulte helped LCU get closer on several occasions during the quarter. She converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 3:18 left to cut the Lions lead to 60-58 and connected on a long-range three-pointer with 31-seconds left to trail 64-62. Audrey Robertson grabbed a steal with 27 seconds left to regain possession for the Lady Chaps, and they had a chance to tie the game on a drive by Schulte with 19 seconds left, but Dorian Norris blocked Schulte's inside shot to hold the win for the Lions.
 
LCU had the start they wanted, opening the game on a 9-0 run, as TAMUC missed their first seven shot attempts. Juliana Robertson led LCU in the opening quarter with seven points, while Foster added six points. LCU was 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the field in the opening frame and led 21-14 heading into the second quarter. Foster was red hot in the second quarter, going 4-of-6 from the field, scoring 11 of LCU's 15 points of the quarter. She also posted three blocks in the quarter. Nine of her 11 points in the quarter were part of a 11-4 run to put LCU up 36-25 inside the final minute of the half.
 
The Lady Chaps shot 60.9% (14/23) from the field in the first half, going 9-of-10 inside the arc. Foster posted 17 of her 20 points in the opening half of play off a 6-of-8 shooting performance. LCU finished the game 43.6% from the field (24/55), going 18-of-30 (60%) inside the arc. While Foster was 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, the rest of the Lady Chaps were a combined 3-of-18 (16.7%) from distance.  
 
LCU held TAMUC to 34.9% (22/63) shooting from the field, marking their first loss when out-shooting an opponent (field goal percentage) since Jan. 30, 2020, which was also a loss in Commerce (their last visit to Commerce). TAMUC benefited off 21 offensive rebounds, leading to an 18-2 advantage in second-chance scoring. The Lions (12-1, 1-1) were led by Robinson, who scored 18 points. They also had Chania Wright (12 points) and Kernal (11 points) finish in double figures.
 
Foster's double-double is the second by a Lady Chaps member this season, joining Juliana Robertson, who also finished in double figures Thursday with 11 points. Burr and Schulte each finished with 12 points.  LCU had a season-high nine blocks in the game, with Foster posting six rejections. It is LCU's highest single-game total since posting 12 in their season opener last season (vs. St. Mary's on Dec. 11). Foster's mark is the highest for a Lady Chap since Maddi Chitsey had six against Midwestern State on Dec. 21, 2019.   
 
LCU, now 3-1 against nationally ranked opponents, falls to 13-3 overall and 2-2 in LSC play. They fall to 1-3 all-time in Commerce and the all-time series is now tied 4-4. The contest was LCU's first game of the season against a nationally ranked opponent on the road.
 
TURNING POINT
Laynee Burr had the first four points of the fourth quarter, which tied the game at 53-53 before TAMUC went on a 7-0 run. Burr had a field goal in the mix, which was LCU's only made field goal in a sequence of 11 shot attempts over a span of eight minutes. As TAMUC went on a 7-0 run LCU missed seven consecutive field goal attempts. Over the final 12:30 of the contest, LCU was 4-of-20 (20%) from the field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
In each of LCU's LSC losses, they had an identical 8-of-14 shooting mark (57.1%) from the free-throw line, which are each season lows (each are the lowest since 55%, 11/20, on Feb. 21, 2019 at Newman). LCU was whistled for 20 fouls Thursday, which was 5.5 fouls above their average of 14.5 per game. The Lady Chaps, who had eight fouls in their last game (against Arkansas Fort Smith), were whistled for nine fouls in the first half Thursday. TAMUC had an 11-point advantage in points from the line (19-8), which is a season high for an LCU opponent. Kernal had 10 free-throw attempts for TAMUC Thursday (most attempts by an LCU opponent since Braylyn Dollar had 12 attempts for West Texas A&M on Jan. 18, 2020).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains in East Texas Saturday, as they head to UT Tyler for a 2 p.m. tip inside Patriot Center.