LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 17, 2022) – Audrey Robertson posted a career-high 19 points and Lubbock Christian University claimed their first neutral site win and first win over a nationally ranked program this season, as the Lady Chaparrals edged No.15 Montana State Billings 60-58 Saturday at the Holiday Hoops Classic inside South Point Arena.
 
LCU won by holding on late and going scoreless over the game's final 2:56. Maci Maddox capped a 6-0 run with a jumper with 7:00 minutes remaining to put LCU up 54-46. Robertson would go on to tally the final six points for LCU, but her final field goal came with 3:41 remaining (put LCU up 58-54). MSUB's Natalie Andreas hit a pair of three-pointers to help them rally back. Cariann Kunkel cut LCU's lead to 60-58 with 1:12 remaining. Kenkel's field goal was the lone made field goal out of the Yellowjackets final five attempts. Kunkel missed a game-tying layup attempt with 39 seconds remaining. LCU closed the game in the same fashion, making one of their final five attempts. In the final 3:41, Grace Foster missed a three-pointer and was unable to make a layup with seven seconds remaining, allowing MSUB one final opportunity after a timeout was called (following the rebound from Foster's miss). Kortney Nelson had a shot to tie the game at the horn, but it was unsuccessful and LCU held on for the win.  
 
The Lady Chaps led for over 38 minutes in the contest. Their largest lead was built early, as LCU used a 7-0 run to open the game and a 6-0 run later in the first quarter, which gave LCU a 19-11 lead to take into the second quarter (the 6-0 run provided their largest lead of the game at 17-7). Six different Lady Chaps figured into the offense in the opening frame, as they were 57.1% (8/14) from the field in the quarter.
 
Robertson had seven points in the second quarter, including a pair of layups for a 28-20 lead four minutes into the quarter. MSUB marched back with a 9-1 run, highlighted by a four-point play from Andreas to tie the game at 29-29 with 67 seconds left in the half. Maddox nailed a key three-pointer on the next possession to give LCU a 32-29 lead at the break. Nelson (9 points) and Andreas (8 points) combined for 17 points in the first half for MSUB, while Robertson (9 points) and Maddox (7 points) combined for 16 points to pace the LCU offense.
 
MSUB had an early 6-0 run in the second half to take a 35-34 lead. Maddox hit a jumper 26 seconds later to erase the Yellowjackets only lead of the game. The jumper also helped LCU close the quarter on an 11-4 run for a 45-39 lead. Carli Bostwick had five of the 11 points for LCU.
 
Robertson finished 7-of-10 from the field for her 19 points. She was joined in double figures offensively by Maddox (13 points) and Bostwick (11 points). Maddox also added a career high in rebounds with eight. LCU was 41.5% (22/53) from the field. They shot 46.3% inside the perimeter (19/41), which led to a 32-16 scoring advantage in the paint. LCU was 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the free-throw line (Bostwick was 5-of-5).
 
Andreas was 3-of-4 from long range and led the 'jackets with 16 points. They also received 13 points from Nelson and 11 points from Kunkel. Nelson was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, as MSUB was 14-of-15 (93.3%) from the line. MSUB fell to 11-2 with the loss.
 
The meeting was the second-ever meeting between the two squads and LCU improves to 2-0 all-time against the Yellowjackets. LCU improved to 8-4 overall on the season, which includes a 1-3 record in neutral site contests.
 
TURNING POINT
MSUB took their only lead of the game with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter (led 35-34), but then went the next 5:39 without a field goal. MSUB missed five consecutive field goal attempts, which was part of a stretch in which they were 2-of-10 from the field over nearly a 10-minute span.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Audrey Robertson led LCU in scoring for the first time this season. She completed the task 24 hours after teammate Carli Bostwick had led LCU in scoring (in a game) for the first time this season (against Georgia Southwestern). With Robertson's efforts, LCU has now had five different Lady Chaps members lead or co-lead the team in scoring for a game this season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU now breaks for the holidays and will return to Lone Star Conference play December 30 at home hosting Cameron inside Rip Griffin Center.