WICHITA FALLS, Texas (January 26, 2023) – The last time Lubbock Christian University hit the hardwood (Saturday), Texas Woman's was 51.9% from the field, which was the highest by an LCU opponent this season. Thursday, LCU's defense tightened things up, as Midwestern State shot 20.4% from the field, which was the lowest by an LCU opponent this season, and the Lady Chaparrals claimed a 61-37 Lone Star Conference West Division win inside Ligon Coliseum.
 
Midwestern State's 20.4% shooting mark was the lowest by an LCU opponent since LCU held Western New Mexico to a 16.7% shooting mark on Feb. 11, 2021. Early on, MSU's shooting percentage wasn't in question, as Dyamon Griggs had six straight points during an 8-0 run to give MSU an 8-4 lead with 4:39 left in the opening quarter. LCU responded over the final 3:22 of the quarter with a 7-2 run, with Reese Schumann tallying three of the points to take an 11-10 lead into the second quarter.
 
Leading 13-12 in the opening minute of the second quarter, LCU took over the game going on a 10-1 run, as MSU went five minutes without a field goal. Rachel Haase capped the run with LCU's first three-pointer of the game. Her long-distance shot came with 5:22 left in the half for a 23-13 lead. LCU maintained the lead to close the half, receiving a Reese Schumann bucket in the closing seconds for a 28-18 halftime lead. The Lady Chaps had the lead due to 14 points in the paint in the half, as LCU was 10-of-17 (58.8%) inside the arc (they were 1-of-9 from outside in the half).
 
MSU nearly went the entire third quarter without a field goal. Martie McCoy opened the second half with a three-pointer for LCU and it started a 7-0 run, which was also part of a 21-1 scoring surge for LCU. MSU had a sequence of 13 consecutive field goals missed, which ended on an Eternity Jackson jumper with 13 seconds left in the quarter. LCU outscored MSU 21-3 in the quarter and took a 49-21 lead into the final frame.
 
It was a twin killing for LCU in the fourth quarter, as twin sisters Tia Johnson and Deja Johnson had back-to-back layups to match LCU's largest lead of the game (53-23) 1:30 into the quarter. MSU did rally back on a 9-0 run (cut LCU's lead to 53-32), but it was ended on a Shaylee Stovall three-pointer.  LCU ended the game with an and-one three-point play converted by Taylor Thomas.
 
Stovall, who had all 18 of her points Saturday tallied in the second half, posted nine of her 11 points in the second half Thursday. Her 11 points joined Grace Foster (12 points) as the only two Lady Chaps in double figures offensively.
 
Griggs led MSU with a game-high 17 points. MSU was held to a 20.4% shooting performance from the field. Included in the mark was a 1-of-14 shooting from outside during the second quarter.
 
MSU remains at the bottom of the West Division standings (1-7), as the loss also places them 5-15 in conference and 9-4 in the LSC.
 
The Lady Chaps moved into sole possession of second place in the West Division standings with the win (West Texas A&M, who LCU had been tied with, lost at Cameron), as they are 6-1 in the divisional standings (Angelo State is 7-1 and in first place). The win, which improved LCU to 14-7 overall and 9-4 in the LSC, improved them to 13-21 against MSU all-time and they are now 2-14 all-time at Ligon Coliseum (winning their second straight game in the venue).
 
TURNING POINT
Shawnisay Millar had a layup to cut LCU's lead to 25-18 with 1:26 remaining. MSU would follow  by missing their next 13 shot attempts over a span of 11:13. LCU would go on a 24-1 scoring run during the Mustangs dry spell.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
MSU was 1-of-14 (7.1%) from long range in the game. It was the worst shooting night from beyond the arc by an LCU opponent this season, and the worst by MSU since a 1-of-20 (5%) shooting night on Feb. 6, 2021 against Oklahoma Christian. LCU's perimeter defense has held the opposition to a 16.5% three-point shooting percentage (18/109) over the last seven games played. LCU has a 50-18 advantage in three-point field goals in the span.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Cameron, who claimed a 68-64 home win over West Texas A&M Thursday, awaits the Lady Chaps Saturday in Lawton, Okla., where the two teams are scheduled for a West Division tip at 1 p.m.