WICHITA FALLS, Texas (January 6, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University posted 27 points in the opening quarter, but a 7-0 run to close the game in overtime is what was needed to extend LCU's road win streak to four games, as Grace Foster (21 points) and Audrey Robertson (18 points) combined for 39 points and the Lady Chaparrals ended Midwestern State's three-game win streak with a 68-61 West Division win in Lone Star Conference play Saturday inside Ligon Coliseum.
The Lady Chaps (10-3, 5-1) had four players score in double figures, led by Grace Foster, who had 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Robertson tacked on 18 points and seven rebounds and Maci Maddox chipped in as well with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Lubbock Christian offense was very productive from downtown, knocking down nine threes on 17 attempts (52.9%). Maddox (3-of-4) and Foster (3-of-6) combined for six of the three-pointers and were a combined to go 6-of-10 from long range.
Lubbock Christian's defense held Midwestern State to only 13.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc (2-of-15) and 30.5 percent from the field. MSU (3-10, 3-4), who received 24 points from Kertisa Amos and 23 points from Zarria Carter, only committed six turnovers in the game, as they out-scored LCU 17-6 in points-off-turnovers. Carter (14) and Amos (10) each had double figures in rebounds to complete double-double performances against LCU.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 14-10 advantage, Lubbock Christian went on an 11-0 run with 4:39 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Foster, to increase its lead to 25-10 (LCU's largest of the game). The Lady Chaps then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 27-12 advantage. Lubbock Christian relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 27 points. LCU was 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the field in the quarter, with Maddox leading lCU with eight points.
The Lady Chaps astronomical shooting numbers came back to Earth in the second quarter, as LCU opened the quarter 1-of-7 from the field. Foster led LCU with seven points in the frame and LCU, going 5-of-15 for 33.3% shooting from the field in the quarter, never let go of the double-figure lead in the quarter and took a 38-27 lead into the half. Maddox had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in the first half, as LCU was led in scoring in the half by Foster's 12 points. MSU, with Amos (13) and Carter (12) combining for 25 points in the half, had a 5-0 scoring advantage from the free-throw line to keep the game in reach.
Lubbock Christian was able to surge on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Shaylee Stovall, to match its largest lead at 47-32 with 6:34 to go in the third quarter. MSU was able to chip away and cancelled out LCU's largest lead, as both teams had 13 points tallied in the half, and LCU took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter (51-40).
MSU opened the fourth quarter 4-of-5 from the field and used a 9-1 run to cut LCU's lead to 52-49 with 7:43 remaining (9-1 run to open the quarter was part of an 12-1 run). LCU went a span of 6:42 without a field goal, and Foster's layup with 4:22 remaining in the quarter ended the timing sequence and ended an overall 18-3 run. Foster's bucket also regained the LCU lead. Maddox drained a three-pointer with 3:44 remaining for a 59-57, but MSU's Makayla Coy tied the game with a jumper as 2:27 remained. MSU only attempted one field goal the remainder of regulation, while LCU missed their final four field goal attempts in regulation.
With the game tied 61-61 in overtime, LCU closed the game with a 7-0 run to claim the 68-61 victory. MSU was 1-of-9 (11.1%) from the field in the overtime frame, as LCU was 3-of-5 (60%) with four points from Audrey Robertson. Shaylee Stovall had a key steal and Foster nailed a big three-pointer, which were vital plays in the extra frame to push LCU to the overtime road win.
Game Notes
» The Lady Chaps made over half of their attempts from three-point range, knocking down nine of 17 shots (52.9%) They opened the game 5-of-6 and made seven of their first 10 attempts. The nine three pointers matches a season high and they have completed the task in consecutive games.
» The Lady Chaps produced a season high 46 rebounds, with Grace Foster leading the squad with nine rebounds. Maci Maddox matched a career high with eight rebounds.
» Lubbock Christian forced MSU into six turnovers, which is the fewest turnovers forced by the Lady Chaps since Texas A&M-Kingsville was forced into six on Dec. 10, 2022. The total was the fewest forced in a victory since defeated West Texas A&M on Mar. 14, 2022 (WTAMU was forced into six turnovers). Saturday, the MSU 18-6 advantage in turnovers forced led to MSU out-scoring LCU 17-6 in points off turnovers. The six points is a season-low in the category for the Lady Chaps.
» Grace Foster led the Lady Chaps with 21 points, marking the 20th time in her career she has surpassed 20 points in a game. Foster was 8-of-14 from the field (3-of-6 from three-point range) and added nine rebounds (led team) and six assists. Foster has led LCU in scoring and rebounding in four consecutive games.
» The Lady Chaps had a season low in points from the free-throw line with five, as they were 5-of-10 (50%) from the free-throw line (outscored 9-5 in the category). The five points from the line are the fewest since scoring five at UT Tyler on Jan. 15, 2022.
» LCU and MSU each had 46 rebounds, but MSU had a 20-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. It led to MSU out-scoring LCU 15-4 in second-chance-points.
» The Lady Chaps leader in plus/minus was Reese Schumann, who had 10 points in 18:31 played and was a +14. Foster was second on the squad at +11.
» LCU, who led for 37:51 and never trailed by more than two points, improved to 2-0 this season in overtime results. They edged Colorado Christian 67-62 in overtime on Nov. 10, 2023 in Lakewood, Colo. LCU has outscored their opponents 19-7 in overtime this season. The Lady Chaps went 1-3 in overtime results last season.
» The win improved LCU to 5-1 on the road this season and they have won four consecutive road games (all LSC games).
» The Lady Chaps improved to 14-21 all-time against Midwestern State. LCU defeats MSU for a seventh consecutive time (all-time) and wins in Wichita Falls for a third consecutive time (LCU improved to 3-14 all-time against the Mustangs in Wichita Falls).
What's Next
LCU returns to Rip Griffin Center Thursday for their first regular season home game since December 12, 2023, as they host UT Permian Basin at 5:30 p.m. for a Lone Star Conference West Division battle.
Portions of this article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
