LUBBOCK, Texas (February 16, 2023) – Grace Foster's 10^th double-double of the season was just a side note to Lubbock Christian University's Lone Star Conference victory over St. Edward's Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center, as the Lady Chaparrals defeated the Hilltoppers 55-29 for SEU's lowest point total since the 2007-2008 season.
 
St. Edward's was held to eight field goals Thursday, with the first and third quarters witnessing one field goal in each of the quarters. The 29-point offensive output was the Hilltoppers lowest since Angelo State held SEU to 26 points in San Angelo, Texas on Jan. 7, 2008.
 
It did not appear SEU's sluggish shooting performance was going to be the headline early, as Jayda Ruffus-Milner scored the opening Hilltoppers shot attempt of the game. The bucket tied the game at 2-2, as LCU also made their first shot attempt of the game, but then dry spells kicked in. The two teams were a combined 3-of-16 from the field in their opening eight shot attempts in the game. LCU made two of their first eight attempts, while SEU was 1-of-8 in the span. SEU would go on to miss their remaining 11 shot attempts of the first quarter. LCU went on an 8-2 run to send the game into the second quarter with a 10-4 lead.
 
A 5-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Grace Foster helped build the LCU lead to 15-6 early in the second quarter. LCU went a span of over six minutes without a field goal, but SEU was 1-of-6 from the field during the span and never cut LCU's lead to under a seven-point margin.
 
A zany situation late in the half nearly gave SEU new life. Sammie Dufek hit a jumper just as a foul was called against LCU to put Rufus-Milner to the free-throw line. The events took place with 1:04 remaining in the half and SEU turned it into a four-point possession and was able to cut LCU's lead to 22-17. The remaining minute was enough for LCU to regain the momentum, as a dialed-in Foster hit back-to-back three-pointers in a 44-second span to put LCU up 28-17 at the half.
 
The pair of three-pointers led to an 8-0 run spilling into the second half, as LCU took a 30-17 lead 44 seconds into the half. Ruffus-Milner scored a three-point play to end the run 1:07 into the second half, but the Hilltoppers would follow missing 15 consecutive shot attempts over a span of 13:47.  LCU used an 11-1 run in the third quarter and led 41-23 through three quarters.
 
The Lady Chaps scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter. SEU's Lauren Catherman ended the Hilltoppers dry spell with a three-pointer midway through the final frame. LCU outscored SEU 21-3 during the span between field goals made by SEU. Audrey Spurgin gave LCU their largest lead with 2:13 left, as she hit a shot in the paint to put LCU up 55-26. SEU's final field goal attempt was a successful three-pointer by Matilda Soric to beat the final horn.
 
Foster led all players with 15 points and 10 rebounds. She was 5-of-7 from the field and three-of-four from three-point range. Thirteen different Lady Chaps stepped on the floor, with all players playing at least five minutes.
 
SEU was led by Jayda Ruffus-Milner, who finished with 11 points. The Hilltoppers did not struggle from the free-throw line, as they were 10-of-11 in the game from the line (90.9%). From the field, SEU shot 18.6% (8/43).
 
The Lady Chaparrals improved to 19-8 overall and 14-5 in the LSC, while SEU went to 13-14 overall and 9-10 in conference. LCU claimed their eighth consecutive win over SEU (16 of the last 18 meetings) and is now 17-6 all-time against the 'toppers.  SEU fell to 0-10 all-time in Lubbock.
 
TURNING POINT
The back-to-back three-pointers by LCU's Grace Foster late in the first half was the turning point. SEU had hovered around a nine to 10-point deficit before the bang-bang call led to a four-point play to cut LCU's lead to a five-point lead. Foster then hit back-to-back three-pointers and all of a sudden, LCU's two-possession margin turned into a double-digit margin.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The last time LCU held an opponent to 29 points was Feb. 11, 2021, as they held Western New Mexico to 23 points in an 80-23 LCU win. The contest was also the last time LCU held a team to 18.6% shooting from the field, as WNMU shot a miserable 16.7% from the field.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip against St. Mary's inside Rip Griffin Center.