SAN ANGELO, Texas (January 7, 2023) - Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant jumper from the left elbow with 0.9-seconds remaining was the go-ahead bucket to lead Angelo State past Lubbock Christian University 53-51 in a matchup of the Lone Star Conference's only unbeaten teams in West Division play Saturday afternoon inside Junell Center.
 
The loss was LCU's first of the season in which they led at the half (9-1) and led at the close of the third quarter (11-1). LCU led 41-39 to open the fourth quarter and the two teams combined for four field goals (two each) over the first 7:21 of the quarter. Shaylee Stovall nailed a three-pointer for LCU to give them a 46-43 lead with 5:49 remaining. She hit another with 1:37 remaining to end a 5-0 ASU run give LCU a 49-48 lead. ASU answered 16 seconds later with a field goal from Briley Merket to take a 50-49 lead. A missed field goal and a turnover resulted in LCU trailing 50-49 with 16 seconds remaining. They fouled Sawyer Lloyd and she missed one of two free-throws and ASU led 51-49. Grace Foster was able to drive in and tie the game at 51-51 with a bucket in the paint. ASU responded with a timeout for a half-court inbounds with nine seconds left and they found McGhee-Pleasant, who hit a step-back jumper from the left elbow to regain the Belles lead for the win.
 
McGhee-Pleasant carried the Belles in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of their 14 points in the quarter. She posted 12 points in the second half and finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double performance. Madeline Stephens led the Belles in the contest with 18 points. Lloyd finished with six steals, 10 rebounds and seven assists.   
 
LCU was outscored in each quarter except the second quarter of play. Trailing 17-10 (trailed as much as 13-5 with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter) after the first quarter (Audrey Robertson scored all 10 points in the quarter for LCU), LCU opened the second quarter with Stovall following a Foster field goal with a pair of three-pointers to cap an 8-0 run for an 18-17 LCU lead. ASU went a stretch going 1-of-10 and 1-of-11 from the field and the poor shooting allowed LCU to close the first half on a 10-2 run for a 28-23 halftime lead.
 
Despite shooting 17.6% (3/17) in the second quarter, ASU led LCU at the half in shooting from the field, as they were 29.4% (10/34) while LCU, who shot 15.4% in the first quarter (2/13), was shooting 28.1% (9/32). Robertson led LCU with 14 points and six rebounds in the first half.
 
LCU opened the second half on a 6-2 run to build their lead to its largest at 34-25 3:04 into the third quarter. The Lady Chaps led 39-30 with 4:04 remaining in the quarter, but ASU responded with a 7-0 run and closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to cut LCU's lead to 41-39.
 
Robertson led LCU with 18 points and completed her first career double-double with a career-high 12 rebounds. Stovall also finished in double figures in scoring with 12 points off a career-high four three-pointers. LCU fell despite a 10-8 advantage in second-chance scoring and an 18-11 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. They shot a season-low 29.5% from the field (18/61).
 
The contest was a West Division meeting of lone Star Conference programs and each team entered the game 3-0 in the West Division and the only unbeaten teams in the division. ASU remains as the only unbeaten team, as they improved to 4-0 in the division, while LCU drops to 3-1. ASU also improves to 13-2 overall and 8-1 in the LSC. Lubbock Christian dropped to 11-5 overall and they are 6-2 in the LSC. All-time, LCU falls to 16-5 against ASU and they are 6-3 historically in San Angelo, Texas.    
 
TURNING POINT
With 6:56 remaining in the third quarter and LCU leading 34-25, LCU went a stretch of 7:43 in which they were 2-of-13 from the field (15.4%), which allowed ASU to gradually come back. A layup by Audrey Robertson ended the dry spell and put LCU up 43-41.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Freshman Martie McCoy received her first collegiate start. She is the first freshman to start for LCU in their NCAA era, which began in the 2015-16 season. Tess Bruffey was the last freshman to start a game, which was Feb. 28, 2015 at Texas A&M International.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU returns home Thursday and will host Eastern New Mexico for a Lone Star Conference West Division meeting. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.