LUBBOCK, Texas (January 11, 2024) – Grace Foster knocked down a game-tying three-pointer with 19-seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime, and the bucket was part of her 23 points tallied after the third quarter and part of 36-point performance to match a Rip Griffin Center scoring mark and it led the Lady Chaps to a 74-67 overtime win over Texas Permian Basin Thursday. The Lone Star Conference home win kept LCU unbeaten in West Division play (3-0).
The Lady Chaps (11-3, 6-1) had three players score in double figures, led by Foster, who had 36 points and four steals (led LCU in steals). Audrey Robertson tacked on 13 points and Maci Maddox chipped in as well with a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.
Lubbock Christian utilized great ball movement in Thursday's game, piling up 16 assists on 26 made field goals. Maddox's career-high 12 assists were the most for the Lady Chaps.
UTPB, who was entering the game matching their best start (through 12 games) in program history, was led by Kamryn Lemon's 21 points and a double-double from Alexus Qaadman (18 points, 12 rebounds). The Falcons fell to 10-3 overall, 5-2 in the LSC and 2-1 in West Division play.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 9-8 advantage, Lubbock Christian went on a 5-0 run with 4:10 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Kennedy Chappell, to increase its lead to 14-8 (LCU's largest lead of the game until overtime). UTPB then responded to tie things up at 18-18 heading into the second quarter. Lubbock Christian did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 18 points close to the basket. Maddox led LCU in the quarter, as she had seven points, with all coming within LCU's first nine points scored.
UTPB opened the second quarter jumping out to a 23-20 lead before Lubbock Christian responded with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Foster, to take a 25-23 lead. The Falcons bounced back to take a 29-27 lead heading into halftime. Qaadman led UTPB with six points in the quarter to give her 14 in the half. Foster led LCU at the break with nine points.
Coming out of halftime break, the Lady Chaps outscored UTPB 16-14 in the third to tie things up at 43-43 heading to the fourth quarter. Neither team led by more than four points in the quarter. Lubbock Christian played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 16 points in the paint (LCU shot 63.6%, going 7-of-11 from the field in the quarter).
Despite taking the lead seven times in the fourth quarter, Lubbock Christian was unable to pull out the victory in regulation, as LCU never had one of the seven leads inside the final 4:36 of regulation. Twice inside the final two minutes, LCU trailed by three points, but in each instance, Foster hit game-tying three-pointers. With 1:31 remaining, Foster connected on a three-pointer to tie the game at 58-58, and after Morgan Helgesen's three-pointer with 27-seconds remaining (put the Falcons up 61-58), Foster answered again with 19-seconds remained to send the game to overtime tied 61-61. Lubbock Christian fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down five three-point shots to account for 15 of its 18 points. Foster had 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Lubbock Christian kept it close before going on a 5-0 run in overtime, finished off by Foster's layup, to seize a 68-63 lead with 2:13 to go in the period. The Lady Chaps kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way, behind Foster's 12 points in the quarter, for the 74-67 win.
Game Notes
» Grace Foster's 36 points matched her career high from Nov. 6, 2022 (in Kansas City, Mo. against Missouri Western.). It also matched the Rip Griffin Center single-game scoring mark, joining a 36-point performance by Emily Atkins (Pool) from Nov. 5, 2010. The program record is 38 points by Beth Capps from Jan. 2, 1996. Foster has led LCU in scoring in five consecutive games.
» Maci Maddox's double-double of 12 assists and 10 points marked her first career double-double performance and the first by a Lady Chaps member this season. Maddox's 12 assists (no turnovers committed) was the most by a Lady Chap since Nicole Hampton had 12 against Angelo State on Mar. 11, 2016. The program record (and arena record) is 13 by Sierra Lovorn from Feb. 10, 2007 (against Oklahoma Baptist).
» The Lady Chaps shot well from three-point range, knocking down 8-of-20 (40%) long range attempts. Foster was 4-of-5 from long-distance.
» Freshman Kennedy Chappell posted a career-high six rebounds and the mark led LCU, marking the first time she has led LCU in rebounds in a game.
» The offensive numbers of Grace Foster (36 points), Audrey Robertson (13 points) and Maci Maddox (10 points) accounted for 80% of LCU's scoring.
» The game featured 15 lead changes and the game was tied 18 times. LCU led for 20:28, UTPB led for 11:13 and the game was tied for 13:19.
» The Lady Chaps improved to 3-0 this season in overtime results. They edged Colorado Christian 67-62 in overtime on Nov. 10, 2023 in Lakewood, Colo. And defeated Midwestern State 68-61 in overtime Saturday in Wichita Falls, Texas. LCU has outscored their opponents 32-13 in overtime this season. The Lady Chaps went 1-3 in overtime results last season.
» LCU improved to 3-2 in games in which they trailed at the half and 2-0 in games in which they were tied to start the fourth quarter.
» The win improved LCU to 5-2 at home this season and they have won their last two home games.
» The Lady Chaps improved to 29-0 all-time against Texas Permian Basin. LCU also moved to 17-0 all-time against UTPB in Lubbock.
What's Next
LCU remains inside Rip Griffin Center Saturday, as they host Angelo State in a LSC West Division contest. Both teams enter the game 3-0 in West Division play.
