LAKEWOOD, Colo. (November 10, 2023) --Audrey Robertson put the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals ahead for good with 2:41 remaining in the extra period to cap a 16-point performance and give the Lady Chaps a 67-62 win over the Colorado Christian Cougars, who mounted a furious comeback in the final 73-seconds of regulation to force the extra frame Friday afternoon at CCU Events Center.
The Lady Chaps (2-1) had three players score in double figures, led by Robertson, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Maci Maddox tacked on 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and freshman Kennedy Chappell helped out with 10 points off the bench.
The Lubbock Christian defense caused its share of mistakes in Friday's game, forcing 17 Colorado Christian turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 18 points on the other end of the floor (18-17 scoring advantage in points-off-rebounds). Maddox's three steals led the way individually for the Lady Chaps. CCU had a game-high 19 points from Nicolle Bowlin, and they received 11 points from Maggie Hutka.
How It Happened
After falling behind 15-7, Lubbock Christian went on a 7-0 run with 2:27 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Shaylee Stovall, to narrow its deficit to 15-14. Colorado Christian ended the run with a three-pointer from Regan Laconte and leaving the Lady Chaps down 18-14 entering the second quarter. Robertson (7) and Stovall (5) accounted for 12 of LCU's 14 points in the opening frame.
Lubbock Christian started off the second quarter going on a 7-0 run to take a 21-18 lead. They built the lead to 25-21 before the Cougars roared back with a 13-2 run before taking a 35-32 lead into halftime. Robertson led LCU in the first half with 11 points off 4-of-5 shooting from the field.
Colorado Christian continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 44-37 advantage before Lubbock Christian went on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a three from Robertson, to grab a 46-44 lead with 1:43 to go in the third, a score which remained until the end of the third quarter. Lubbock Christian's bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled five of the team's 14 third-quarter points (four from Chappell, who led LCU in the quarter).
The Cougars proceeded to tie things up at 51-51 before Lubbock Christian went on a 6-0 run, finished off by MacI Maddox's jumper, to seize a 57-51 lead with 1:34 to go in the fourth. The Cougars then fought back, with Bowlin (1:13 remaining) and Hutka (20-seconds remaining) each connecting on three-pointers to even things up at 57-57. Maddox, who led LCU with six points in the quarter, was unable to toss in a runner as time expired, which sent the game to overtime. LCU had another productive quarter from the bench, as Audrey Spurgin (3) and Chappell (2) helped the bench supply five of LCU's 11 points in the quarter. The two bench producers accounted for all 10 second-half bench points (of 25 overall points scored in the half).
Lubbock Christian then took care of business in extra time, outscoring Colorado Christian 10-5 to seize victory by the 67-62 final score. LCU led the final 2:41 of overtime. LCU was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the overtime period, with Grace Foster draining all four of her attempts.
Game Notes
» The Lady Chaps held the Cougars to only 34.9 percent shooting from the field, which is LCU's best defensive performance this season. LCU held CCU to one field goal (on six attempts) in overtime, while the Lady Chaps missed just one shot in overtime (2-of-3 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in overtime).
» Lubbock Christian went to the line for 28. free-throw attempts and made 21 free-throws (80.8%). LCU has scored at least 20 points at the free-throw line in all three games this season. Ironically Colorado Christian was an opponent involved in the last time LCU had a string of three consecutive games in which they had at least 20 points from the line, as LCU completed the task once last season (in the second, third and fourth games of the 2022-23 season).
» Audrey Robertson led the Lady Chaps with 16 points off a 6-of-9 shooting performance from the field (also 2-of-2 from three-point range) She was three points away from matching her career high (19).
» Lubbock Christian got six rebounds from both Audrey Robertson and Maci Maddox, which led the team.
» Kennedy Chappell recorded her first collegiate double-figure performance, as she finished with 10 points off 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
» The contest was LCU's first road game of the season and the win marked the fifth consecutive season LCU has won their first road game of the season.
» LCU served as CCU's season-opening opponent for a third consecutive season and LCU has won all three contests to improve to 3-1 in the all-time series against CCU. They are also 2-1 all-time against the Cougars at CCU.
What's Next
» The Lady Chaps remain in Lakewood Saturday and face Colorado State Pueblo at 2 p.m. (Central) inside CCU Events Center. The game closes out their stay at the RMAC/LSC Tip-Off Classic and serves as LCU's first neutral site contest of the season. CSU Pueblo knocked off No.7 UT Tyler Friday 59-58, as they improved to 2-1 on the season and closed out a series of three consecutive games against nationally ranked programs.
Portions of this article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
