SAN ANGELO, Texas (March 10, 2023) – Less than a week after suffering a 35-point loss to Texas Woman's at the Lone Star Conference Championships in Frisco, Texas, No.7-seed Lubbock Christian University avenged the loss with a 62-55 upset in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals over No,2-seed No.10 Texas Woman's Friday inside Junell Center. With the win, LCU advances to Saturday's semifinals and will play Black Hills State Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
History was also made in the upset victory, as Grace Foster, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and 27 points in the second half, notched a program NCAA-era postseason single-game record with 29 points. She was 12-of-12 from the free-throw line in the process, which is a postseason program single-game best mark. It approached their overall program single-game record held by Nicole Hampton, who was 14-of-14 from the line on Jan. 16, 2014.
 
The previous meeting witnessed TWU setting a LSC Championship record shooting performance from outside, as the Pioneers shot a whopping .722 (13-18) from three-point range, which also marked a record by an LCU opponent. There was no repeat performance Friday, as TWU was 1-of-10 from the three-point range in the game.
 
The game had that type of pace to start, as the two teams struggled offensively out the gates. TWU opened the game 1-of-13 from the field over the opening 11:27 of the contest, while LCU opened 1-of-9 from the field over their opening 6:30 of play. Foster's only bucket of the first half was the difference in the opening frame, as she scored with 15 seconds left in the quarter to give LCU a 6-5 lead at quarter's close.  
 
TWU would be held to a shooting mark of 20.8% (5/25) in the first half. Less than a week after holding LCU to a 49-15 halftime deficit, LCU held TWU to 14 first half points. Maci Maddox had a big second quarter, as she scored six of LCU's 15 points in the quarter, including four points of a 7-0 run in the quarter, to help LCU take a 21-14 lead into the half.
 
Foster made her presence known in the third quarter, scoring 16 of LCU's 18 points in the frame. The quarter's tone offensively went from a pillow fight to a heavyweight bout. Neither team had more than a 3-0 run and the two teams combined for 38 points in the quarter (20 by TWU). LCU was 7-of-12 from the field in the quarter, while TWU was 7-of-14. Foster was 6-of-6 from the field in the quarter, en route to her 16 points.
 
LCU opened up the fourth quarter with an and-one by Maddox for a 42-34 lead, but the Pioneers stormed back. TWU went on a 9-0 run and took a 43-42 lead, but it would last less than 30 seconds, as Rachel Haase improvised after recovering her own loose ball and forced up a shot that was drained. After a stop, Audrey Robertson hit a deep two-point shot (was later reviewed and ruled a two-point field goal) to put LCU up 46-43. Sadie Moyer cut the TWU deficit to 46-45 with 5:35 left and LCU responded with a 7-0 run. Foster had five straight points to start the run. She scored 11 of LCU's final 16 points over the final 5:13 of the game. The other five points were from Maddox, who connected on the final three points of a string of nine points from the line to end the game for LCU (LCU's last field goal came with 1:40 left from Maddox).
 
Foster went from 1-of-7 shooting in the first half to 7-of-8 shooting in the second half. Her 29 points topped Maddi Chitsey's mark of 28 points against North Georgia at the Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio (Mar. 26, 2019). Maddox finished with 16 points to join Maddox in double figures. LCU was 20-of-23 from the line (87%) and went 43.5% (20/46) from the field. They held TWU to 35.7% shooting from the field.
 
Ngozi Obineke led TWU with 14 points off the bench. Ashley Ingram provided the Pioneers with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Pioneers, who claimed the Lone Star Conference regular season title and East Division title, have their season end at 26-6. A record that included a pair of wins against LCU.
 
LCU, now 23-10 on the season, only trailed for 3:39 of the game. A big difference from the prior meeting, which had been the only game this season in which LCU never had a lead at any point of the game.
 
TURNING POINT
TWU went on their 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 46-45 lead with 5:35 remaining. LCU responded with Rachel Haase and Audrey Robertson sparking a 4-0 run, and while TWU's Sadie Moyer did cut the deficit to 46-45, the Pioneers followed with six consecutive misses from the field. By the time Jada Celsur ended the dry spell, LCU had already built the lead to 53-45 (TWU went 4:38 without a field goal).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU was playing in their 25^th NCAA postseason game and they improve to 23-2 all-time in postseason play. They move to 14-1 all-time in regional tournament play, which includes a 6-0 mark in neutral site contests during NCAA postseason play. LCU improved to 5-0 all-time against No.2-seeded teams and 2-0 against TWU in postseason play (NCAA level). LCU eliminated the Pioneers on Mar. 11, 2016 in Lubbock, which was their first-ever NCAA postseason contest. LCU improves to 7-3 all-time overall against TWU.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Lady Chaps are back at it Saturday in San Angelo, as they face Black Hills State in the Semifinals. It marks their first-ever meeting between the two programs. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m., which will be followed by the semifinal matchup between  No.1-seed Angelo State and No.5 UT Tyler.