LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 16, 2022) – No.13 Georgia Southwestern State, carried by a combined 35 points from Kayla Langley (18) and Jolicia Williams (17), was able to close a Holiday Hoops Classic contest against Lubbock Christian University with a 9-0 run to hold off a Lady Chaparrals comeback bid and open the weekend with a 70-59 win at South Point Arena.
 
LCU had rallied from an 11-point second half deficit and trailed 61-52, after Jacquelyn Levay converted a four-point play for the Hurricanes with 5:56 remaining, before LCU went on a 7-0 run. Audrey Robertson had a layup to begin the run, which was followed by a three-pointer from Carli Bostwick and a bucket from Audrey Spurgin to cut LCU's deficit to 61-59. It unfortunately would be as close as LCU would get to overcoming the deficit. A trio of missed field goals and turnovers kept LCU off the scoreboard over the final 3:32 of the game, as GSW made six of their final eight shot attempts.
 
Shooting numbers were similar in the second half, as GSW (7-of-10 (70%) in the fourth quarter) was 42.9% (12/28) from the field and received 13 points in the half from Langley. Carli Bostwick had 13 points in the half for LCU, who was 38.5% (10/26) from the field over the final two quarters. Both teams were 4-of-9 from the field in the half.
 
LCU exploded offensively out of the gates, making six of their opening seven shot attempts of the game. Maci Maddox (three) and Audrey Robertson (two) combined for five of the six field goals, with a Robertson layup putting LCU up 13-8 with 5:56 remaining in the opening quarter. Robertson and Bostwick followed with a pair of free-throws to give LCU a 17-10 advantage, but LCU went the next 9:39 without a field goal, which included a scoreless sequence of 4:30. GSW, closing the opening quarter on a 4-0 run to cut LCU's lead to 17-14 at the quarter's close, went on a 10-0 run for a 20-17 lead two minutes into the second quarter. The Hurricanes used the run as part of a 24-6 scoring surge to lead 34-23 with 2:37 left in the first half. Bostwick connected on a three-pointer for LCU for their lone field goal of the final 4:23 of the first half. The three-pointer helped LCU close out the half on a 5-2 run to trail 36-28 at the half.
 
Ava Jones led GSW and all scorers with 11 points in the opening half. Robertson led LCU with nine points in the half.
 
Bostwick led LCU with a career-high 18 points and combined for 33 points with Robertson, who finished with 15 points. The career-high performance included a 4-of-5 mark from outside, 6-of-6 from the line and six rebounds (all marks are career highs). Reese Schumann led LCU with nine boards and two blocks. LCU lost despite a 41-32 rebound advantage. LCU was 37.3% (19/51) from the field in the loss.
 
GSW (8-1) benefited off a 17-8 advantage in turnovers, which provided a 19-9 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. They had four players finish with double figures offensively, as Langley (18) and Williams (17) were joined by Levay (12 points) and Jones (11 points), who also added eight assists.
 
The meeting was the first-ever meeting between the two squads. LCU (7-4) is now 2-1 all-time against Georgia-based programs.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU struggled from the field late in each quarter of Friday's contest. LCU was held without a field goal for the final 5:55 of the first quarter, the final 2:21 of the second quarter, the final 1:44 of the third quarter and the final 3:32 of the game. LCU was a combined 7-of-21 (33.3%) from the field inside the final five minutes of each quarter (combined). They were 12-of-30 (40%) in the first five minutes of each quarter combined.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU was 15-of-17 from the free-throw line for an 88.2% shooting mark from the charity stripe. LCU is 83.6% (61/73) from the free-throw line in neutral site games this season. Grace Foster is 10-of-10 from the stripe to lead LCU in the statistic (in neutral site play).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU completes their Las Vegas stay Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CT) facing No.15 Montana State Billings, who is 11-1 after a 68-57 win Friday over Texas A&M-Kingsville.