KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 6, 2022) – No.13 Lubbock Christian University dropped another heartbreaker at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic inside Municipal Auditorium, as Grace Foster's 36-point performance (tied for the fourth-most in program history) was not enough to lead the Lady Chaparrals past Missouri Western State, who claimed a 101-96 overtime victory Sunday evening.
 
After falling 65-64 to No.6 Missouri Southern State in a game that had 11 lead changes Saturday, LCU jumped into the mix Sunday in a tilt featuring 12 lead changes and LCU's first overtime contest since January 16, 2020 (69-68 loss at Eastern New Mexico). Despite the high volume of lead changes Sunday, LCU only led for 7:19, while MWSU had the lead for 31:33.
 
In each contest, LCU had a lead inside the final minute of regulation. Sunday, LCU went up 84-82 with Maci Maddox hitting a runner with 16 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. MWSU wasted no time, driving in and dumping a feed to Connie Clarke, who laid it off the glass and in to tie the contest 84-84 with nine seconds left. LCU called a timeout and worked a final shot with two seconds left, but Whitney Cox never had a solid attempt, as she was tied up with a defender and was unable to get a foul call.
 
The Lady Chaps had a promising start to the overtime frame. Foster, who had 20 points in the second half, opened the scoring for LCU 22 seconds into overtime with a layup to start a 4-0 run. Cleao Murray ended the run with a three-pointer for the Griffons, but Cox hit a field goal with 2:49 left in the extra frame to put LCU up 90-87. The Lady Chaps would make one of their four field goal attempts and miss a pair of free-throw attempts (LCU entered OT 23-of-25 from the line) over the remaining 2:49 of the game.  The game was tied 93-93 with 33 seconds left in overtime when the Griffons scored the next four points over a five second span, taking advantage of an LCU turnover for a 97-93 lead. Maddox had a layup with 16 seconds left to cut the deficit to 97-95, but her field goal was the lone LCU field goal over the aforementioned final 2:49 of the game. MWSU made their final six free-throw attempts to hold off the Lady Chaps in the final stanza.
 
LCU had to overcome obstacles through much of the regulation frame. The Griffons opened the game with their first nine points coming from beyond the arc. Their first two came on second-chance efforts and had MWSU with a 6-0 lead. They led as much as 21-13 in the first quarter, with Clark posting 10 points in the quarter to help give the Griffons a 22-15 advantage to start the second quarter. MWSU scored the opening bucket of the second quarter before LCU went on a 7-0 run (Martie McCoy with a trio of free-throws in the run for LCU) to cut the deficit to 24-22. With 5:22 left in the second quarter, Foster knocked down a three-pointer and Reese Schumann followed with a layup to give LCU a short-lived 27-26 lead. It was LCU's only lead of the first half, as the Griffons used a Trinity Knapp three-pointer to help end the half on a 4-0 run for a 39-33 lead. Foster, with seven points in the second quarter, led all scorers with 12 points at the break, while Clarke and Brionna Budgetts co-led the Griffons with 10 points each.
 
MWSU's 4-0 run to end the first half would develop into an 8-0 run, as the Griffons tallied the opening four points of the half for a 43-33 lead. They would lead by 10 (47-37) with seven minutes left in the third quarter before the Lady Chaps would chip away at the deficit. Foster converted on a three-point play, which was followed by field goals from Cox and Audrey Robertson for a 7-0 run to trail 47-44 with 6:11 left in the quarter. They would eventually take a lead in the quarter, as Maddox had a steal-and-score with 2:29 to go in the quarter for a 57-56 lead. LCU had a pair of two-point leads in the final two minutes of the quarter, but Murray nailed a three-pointer to put MWSU up 63-60 with under a minute left in the quarter. Taylor Thomas had an and-one three-point play to send the game into the fourth quarter tied 63-63. Foster had 12 points in the quarter off 4-of-5 shooting.      
 
Foster's night was the finest scoring performance since Emily Pool (Atkins) torched Northern New Mexico College for 36 points on Nov. 5, 2010. Each of those performances are tied for fourth in program history, as Beth Capps holds the program single-game scoring mark of 38 points from Jan. 22, 1996 (Capps is also one of two players to have a 37-point outing). Foster was 13-of-20 from the field (4-of-6 from long-range) and was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line (also had six rebounds and a trio of blocks). Her 13 field goals were the most by a Lady Chap since Kelsey Canavan had 13 field goals on Mar. 1, 2013 against Rogers State.
 
Foster was one of six Lady Chaps to have a career-high point outing Sunday. Whitney Cox, who entered the game following career-highs in points (6) and rebounds (6) Saturday, posted her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She was missed late, as she fouled out with 2:03 left and the game tied 90-90. Robertson (15 points) and Maddox (13 points) were part of the mix with career-high production and joined Cox and Foster in double-figures.
 
LCU, shooting 49.2% from the field (31/63), was 29-of-33 (87.9%) from the free-throw line. The 29 free-throws were tied for the fifth-most since LCU began competing with a NCAA schedule (2013-14) and their highest mark since 30 against Lander last season (Nov. 19, 2021).
 
MWSU (1-1) received 34 points from Clarke, off a 12-of-19 shooting performance. She also completed a double-double with 12 rebounds. Clarke's performance, which was the sixth-best point performance in MWSU history, was the most by an opposing player against LCU since Addy Clift had 35 points against the Lady Chaps at Oklahoma Christian on February 17, 2018. The Griffons, coached by former Texas Tech head coach Candi Whitaker, also received 15 points from Murray, as MWSU had five players in double-figures offensively.   
 
The Lady Chaps, dropping the first-ever meeting between the two programs, fell to 0-2 with the loss. It is LCU last opened the season 0-2 during the 2016-17 campaign.
 
TURNING POINT
While LCU never led by more than four points, they trailed as much as 10 points in the contest. Overcoming a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to at least take a lead Saturday, LCU was able to overcome their largest deficit (10 points) in the second half Sunday. Trailing 47-37 with 6:56 left in the third quarter, LCU was able to answer a 4-0 Griffons run with Foster's three-point play. It was the first a three consecutive field goal attempts by the Lady Chaps, and it was part of an 8-of-9 shooting stretch to help LCU march back and take a 60-58 lead.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
How rare was it to see the opposition post 100 points against the Lady Chaps. Sunday marked the second time an LCU opponent has scored at least 100 points against LCU during Steve Gomez's tenure as the Lady Chaps head coach. The last time LCU allowed at least 100 points was on Jan. 31, 2004 in a 101-62 loss to Oklahoma Christian, which was during Gomez's first season with the Lady Chaps. Overall in program history, Missouri Western's 101 points marked the 10^th time in LCU program history in which they allowed at least 100 points in a contest.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Chaps host the Carpet Tech Classic Friday at Rip Griffin Center, where they open with Colorado Christian (6 p.m. tip). Colorado State Pueblo and UT Tyler complete the field of the Carpet Tech Classic.