SILVER CITY, N.M. (February 9, 2023) – Lubbock Christian University held Western New Mexico to 14 points in the second half and overcame a halftime deficit, behind 15 points in the second half from Grace Foster, as the Lady Chaparrals moved into first place of Lone Star Conference's West Division with a 54-40 Thursday night victory at Drag's Court.
 
Inside the final three minutes of the second quarter, as WNMU led 22-19, the momentum started to shift. Martie McCoy hit a jumper to start a 6-0 LCU run, which helped LCU take a 25-22 lead. The Mustangs closed the half with the final four points of the half to take a 26-25 lead into the break.
 
It would be the final lead WNMU would have, as LCU never trailed after Maci Madox and Audrey Robertson had field goals to open the second half with LCU taking a 29-26 lead. WNMU went the first two-and-a-half minutes of the half without a field goal and a span of 7:24 with one field goal. Meanwhile, Foster was supplying the offense for LCU. She had 10 points in the third quarter and her first eight points helped LCU take a 39-31 lead with 2:36 remaining in the quarter. Her final bucket of the quarter was tallied with 31 seconds left and gave LCU a 43-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
WNMU was held to four points in the fourth quarter and their first points were not scored until Alina Simon had a layup with 2:42 remaining. By that time, the game was out of reach. Foster continued her hot half with LCU's first five points of the fourth quarter, as she personally had a 7-0 run, which was part of LCU's 11-0 run for a 52-36 lead with 6:12 left. LCU went the rest of the way without a field goal, but was only outscored 4-2 for the game's remainder.
 
LCU's defense held WNMU to 5-of-25 (20%) from the field in the second half. Overall, WNMU was held to a 28.6% shooting mark from the field (16/56). They were a miserable 7.7% (1/13) from three-point range in the contest. LCU was 41.7% (20/48) from the field and sub-par from outside at 21.4% (3/14).
 
Foster led LCU with 24 points and was 8-of-11 inside the arc (72.7%). She also led LCU with seven rebounds. Maddox joined Foster in double figures with 11 points. LCU claimed victory despite a season-low mark in rebounds with 27. They were out-rebounded 36-27.
 
WNMU (7-15, 5-12) had Susi Namao and Diamond Moore co-lead the Mustangs offense with 11 points each. Moore was 5-of-7 from the field, while the rest of the team was a combined 22.4% (11/49).     
 
LCU (17-8, 12-5) claimed their 12^th consecutive win in the all-time series, which extends their all-time series lead to 16-10. They improve to 6-3 all-time in Silver City against the Mustangs.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU trailed 12-7 in the opening quarter. WNMU had just went on a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, but then LCU responded a 10-0 run highlighted by three-pointers from Maci Maddox and Rachel Haase for a 17-12 LCU lead. The game was never more than a five-point margin until 5:19 remaining in the third quarter.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU was 11-of-13 (84.6%) from the line in the contest. It marks the eighth time this season in which LCU has had at least 10 free-throws in a game and have not missed more than two attempts. The Lady Chaps are 22-of-25 (88%) in their prior two games and 44-of-54 (80%) in their last four games from the line.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU heads to Portales, N.M. Saturday for a 2 p.m. (CT) tip against Eastern New Mexico inside Greyhound Arena.