SAN ANGELO, Texas (March 13, 2023) – Since becoming postseason eligible in 2015-16, Lubbock Christian University has had each of their seasons come to an end in a form of a postseason championship game, and for a second consecutive season, they have their season end in the South Central Region Championship Game. No.7-seed Lubbock Christian, the highest remaining seed in the field, was unable to play the Cinderella roll again, as they fell 67-64 in double overtime to No.5-seed UT Tyler Monday night at Junell Center.
 
Neither team had more than a two-point lead in the fourth quarter and there were six lead changes in the quarter. Meagan Mendazona put UTT up 48-47 with 42 seconds remaining. LCU point guard Maci Maddox drove in and drew contact on a shot with under 10 seconds remaining to put LCU ahead on a three-point play 50-48. UTT had time to setup a play and Mendazona drew a foul in the closing seconds, which put her at the free-throw line. She made both free throws, which led to the first overtime.
 
Mendazona's free-throws were two of three made in the entire regulation, but that trend would change in overtime. Of the combined 16 points in the first overtime, 12 were recorded from the free-throw line. LCU was 0-of-5 from the field, but went to the line for four trips and was 8-of-8 from the line. The Lady Chaps trailed 58-54 with 2:06 left, but as they kept UTT off the scoreboard, Foster and Maddox each made a pair of free-throws and forced the second extra session.
 
Carli Bostwick put LCU up 60-58 with LCU's first field goal of overtime midway through the opening minute of the second overtime. Entering the final minute, the score was tied until Martina Machalova drained a three-pointer for a 65-62 advantage. Bostwick had a layup with just under 30 seconds remaining and it trimmed the Lady Chaps deficit to 65-64. A foul put UTT to the free-throw line with 20 seconds left and both free-throws were made to force LCU into going for an outside shot. Bostwick had a step-back three-point attempt prior to the horn, but it did not fall and UTT claimed the win.
 
The opening quarter was full of defense, as the two teams combine for four field goals in the quarter. UTT had the opening two field goals and had a 4-0 lead 2:31 into the game. The score remained 4-0 for the next 2:35 until a three-pointer from Rachel Haase put LCU on the scoreboard. It opened a 5-0 run for LCU. Two of LCU's three field goals were from three-point range, including one from Audrey Robertson to help LCU lead 10-9 heading into the second quarter.
 
LCU's opening seven points of the second quarter were from the free-throw line, as LCU had a 7-4 run to open the frame. Robertson helped cap a 6-0 LCU run with a three-pointer to put LCU up 23-17 with 3:22 left in the half. Meagan Mendazona answered Robertson's three-pointer and it sparked a 13-4 UTT run to close the half.  UTT hit a trio of three-pointers in the 13-4 run, with Montse Gutierrez hitting a pair inside the final 1:10 for a 30-27 halftime lead. Gutierrez led UTT in the half with 10 points.
 
The 13-4 run was extended into a 19-4 run, as a 6-0 UTT run in the opening three minutes of the third quarter provided UTT a 36-27 lead. Steve Gomez called a timeout, and it proved big, as LCU came out of the timeout and went on a 9-0 run. Rachel Haase made of free-throws to cap the run with 2:09 left in the quarter to tie the game 36-36. Machalova regained the lead with a three-pointer, but only to be matched by a Bostwick three-pointer to send the game into the fourth quarter tied 39-39.
 
LCU shot a program postseason-low (NCAA-era) 27.9% (17/61) from the field. They did excel from the free-throw line, shooting 92.3% (24/26), which was their second-best mark in their program's NCAA postseason era. Maddox and Foster each had 15 points to co-lead the team in scoring, with Robertson finishing with 13 points (posted 11 in the first half).
 
Foster finished with the program's 11^th double-double during the NCAA postseason, as she added 11 rebounds to her 15-point performance. The 11 rebounds provided her with 311 rebounds on the season, which passed Nicole Hampton's total of 310 rebounds from the 2012-13 season as the best single-season total in program history. Foster also finished with the second-best point total in program history with 575 points on the season (Beth Capps mark of 657 points in 1996-97 is the only season with a higher point total by a Lady Chap). She was also 9-of-10 in the game from the free-throw line to finish the season 91.5% from the line, which is the fifth-best single-season mark in program history.
 
The Patriots, who will make their program's first Elite Eight appearance in Division II, were led by Utah state transfer Mendazona, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Gutierrez (17 points) and Lovisa Hevinder (11 points) joined Mendazona in double figures.
 
LCU fell in a NCAA postseason game for the third time in program history. Their overall NCAA postseason record all-time falls to 24-2, while their all-time record in South Central Regionals falls to 15-2. The loss, ending LCU's season with a 24-11 record, was LCU's first regional loss as a neutral site game (7-1). The game marked LCU's second overtime game in their NCAA postseason history. Their prior overtime contest in a NCAA postseason game was on Mar. 29, 2019 in their national championship win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
 
TURNING POINT
With 5:48 remaining in the third quarter and LCU trailing 36-27, Rachel Haase checked into the game and LCU went on their 9-0 run. Haase led LCU in the game with a +15 plus/minus (next closest was a +6 by Reese Schumann.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Grace Foster and Maci Maddox were named to the Region All-Tournament Team. The two mark the 13^th and 14^th Lady Chaps members to receive Region All-Tournament honors in program history. Foster averaged 20.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in San Angelo, while Maddox averaged 14.7 points a game in the tournament.
 
END OF THE ROAD
The loss brought an end to two individuals, as it was the final time Whitney Cox will wear a LCU uniform and it was the final game for assistant coach Vic Self, who is retiring. Coach Self has been on staff since LCU's transition from NAIA to NCAA. Cox appeared in 86 games over her four seasons with the Lady Chaps. She posted 40 career blocks as a Lady Chap.