ODESSA, Texas (January 5, 2023) – Grace Foster posted her third performance of at least 20 points on the road (in Lubbock Christian University's fourth road game of the season), as Foster's performance, joined by an 18-point performance from Audrey Robertson, helped the Lady Chaparrals claim a 73-60 Lone Star Conference West Division win over Texas Permian Basin Thursday night inside Falcon Dome. The contest was LCU's first divisional road game of the season and it extends their win streak to four games.
 
Despite six lead changes, LCU led for than 30 minutes in the game. A pair of the lead changes came in the opening five minutes of the game, as LCU used three pointers from Foster and Audrey Robertson to turn a one-point deficit into a 9-5 lead. Outside of the game's opening bucket from LCU's Maci Maddox, Foster (6 points) and Robertson (5 points) produced the rest of the scoring in the quarter and LCU had a 13-9 lead after the opening quarter.
 
That trend continued in the second quarter, as Foster hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 19-9 LCU lead. Foster had LCU's first 10 points of the quarter, including her final two points of the stretch, which helped end UTPB's game-high 8-0 run to give LCU a 23-21 lead. The layup was followed by free-throws from Robertson for a 25-21 LCU lead with 4:50 remaining in the half. The wealth was shared with 1:50 remaining in the half, as Reese Schumann followed a pair of buckets from Maddox with an old-fashioned three-point play for a 32-25 LCU lead. Rachel Haase closed the scoring in the half with a three-pointer with 20 seconds left for a 35-27 halftime lead.
 
Foster posted 16 points in the first half, with Maddox (6) and Robertson (7) combining for 13 points in the half. LCU's 57.1% (8/14) shooting in the second quarter helped them post a 52.4% (11/21) shooting mark in the half.
 
The Falcons came out flying in the second half. Avalon Munoz opened the half with a three-pointer 13 seconds into the third quarter and it ignited an 11-2 Falcons run for a 38-37 lead three minutes into the half. Robertson had five straight points for LCU to help them battle back, and a three-pointer with 2:03 left in the quarter started a 5-0 run for a 44-40 LCU lead (44 seconds left in the quarter. Despite five points from Robertson in the quarter, LCU was outscored 17-11 in the quarter, but took a 46-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Foster was hampered with foul trouble in the fourth quarter, but LCU received production from their freshman off the bench. Martie McCoy, who finished with a career-high six points, had all six points in the fourth quarter. With the game tied 46-46, Foster squeezed a pair of free-throws in between a pair of McCoy field goals for a 6-0 run, which not only matched their largest run of the game, but gave LCU a 52-46 lead three-minutes into the quarter. Halfway into the quarter, McCoy made a pair of free-throws to spark a 4-0 run and LCU led 60-50 with 4:30 remaining. The teams combined for 23 free-throws in the quarter and LCU did not disappoint, hitting 11-of-13 attempts for an 84.6% shooting mark from the charity stripe. Freshman Taylor Thomas was 4-of-5 from the line and was one of five Lady Chaps to have a successful trip to the line.  LCU was also 8-of-10 from the field (80%), as they outscored UTPB 27-16 in the quarter.
 
Robertson (11) and Maddox (7) combined for 18 points in the second half. Maddox finished with 13 points to join Foster (20) and Robertson (18) in double figures in scoring. Robertson led LCU with nine rebounds. Shaylee Stovall produced a career-high four steals. LCU shot 50% (23/46) in the game for their second game of at least 50% shooting from the field.
 
UTPB fell for a fourth consecutive game (6-8, 3-5) despite a 41-36 rebounding advantage (received 11 rebounds from Morgan Helgesen, who also had 12 points for a double-double) and a 24-6 scoring advantage in second-chance-scoring. Alexus Quaadman and Munoz each had 17 points to lead UTPB. They were 3-of-25 (12.0%) from three-point range.
 
LCU remained unbeaten all-time against UTPB and improved to 27-0 against the Falcons. LCU is now 11-4 overall and 6-1 in LSC play (3-0 in West Division play).
 
TURNING POINT
UTPB missed their first six shot attempts of the fourth quarter, which was part of a sequence of 10 consecutive misses from the field. For a stretch of 12:52, which ended with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter, UTPB was 1-of-17 (5.9%) from the field. That while LCU closed the final 12:03 of the game 10-of-13 from the field (76.9%).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU was 80.8% (23/46) from the free-throw line, which marked the seventh time this season LCU has posted at least 20 points from the free-throw line. LCU has also shot over 80% from the line in three straight games away from Rip Griffin Center.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Its off to the Concho Valley for a huge contest, as Angelo State awaits LCU for a 1 p.m. tip Saturday inside Junell Center. ASU topped No.12 West Texas A&M Thursday night in San Angelo, Texas.