LUBBOCK, Texas (December 12, 2024) – No. 7 Lubbock Christian University secured a dominant 71-43 Lone Star Conference victory over St. Mary's Thursday at the Rip Griffin Center, fueled by a season-high 34 points from the bench.
The Lady Chaps (10-1, 4-1) had two players score in double figures, as Audrey Spurgin, and Martie McCoy each had their first double-figure point performances of the season. Grace Foster added five points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Lubbock Christian offense was very productive from deep, pouring in 10 threes on 24 attempts. Eight different Lady Chaps connected from deep, with McCoy and Maddie Moyers each connecting twice.
Lubbock Christian did a great job disrupting the Rattlers shots in the contest, coming away with seven blocks. Foster's three rejections led the way individually for the Lady Chaps.
St. Mary's suffered their first LSC loss of the season (2-1) and their three-game win streak came to a close (6-3 overall). Freshman Christin Callens led StMU with 10 points.
How It Happened
After falling behind 7-0, Lubbock Christian went on a 9-0 run with 6:23 left in the first quarter to take a 9-7 lead. They missed their first three field goal attempts and did not connect with their first field goal until Tia Johnson drained a three-pointer 4:27 into the contest. LCU closed the quarter on a 12-4 scoring run for a 12-11 lead through the opening period. Each team struggled from the field in the frame, as LCU opened the game 2-of-10 from the field and StMU went 3-of-10 through their opener 10 shots (made their first two shot attempts and then followed with a 3-of-18 stretch). Tia Johnson led LCU with four points off the bench in the quarter (all her points in the game were tallied in the period).
The Lady Chaps opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run, which was part of a 27-6 scoring frenzy for LCU, carrying over from the first quarter. Martie McCoy, hitting her first field goals of the season, was 4-of-5 from the field in the second quarter and all 10 of her points were scored in the frame and helped LCU take a 31-18 advantage heading into halftime.
Lubbock Christian continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 9-0 run to expand its lead further to 43-23 with 5:54 to go in the third. LCU made seven of their final eight shot attempts of the quarter and led as much as 48-24 in the quarter before taking a 56-34 lead into the final quarter. Kennedy Chappell scored seven points in the game and all seven were registered in the third quarter to lead LCU's offense in the period.
Lubbock Christian kept widening that lead, expanding it to 63-38 before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Taylor Allen's three, to grow the lead to 68-38 with 2:38 to go in the contest (largest lead of the game). It was Moyers' time to supply the offense, as she had six points in the game and all six were notched in the period to lead LCU's offense in the quarter.
Game Notes
» The Lady Chaps shot well from three-point range, knocking down 10 of 24 long range attempts (41.7%). It marked the second time this season LCU hit at least 10 three-pointers.
» The Lady Chaps held the Rattlers to only 26.8 percent shooting from the field. It is the second time the Lady Chaps have held the opposition to under a 30% shooting mark.
» LCU had 12 players touch the floor and all 12 contributed offensively. LCU's top two leading scorers entering the game (Grace Foster and Audrey Robertson) combined for one field goal in the game.
» The Lady Chaps shared the ball well, recording an assist on 73 percent of made field goals. Robertson led LCU with four assists, as eight different Lady Chaps had at least one assist.
» The Lubbock Christian bench came alive by scoring 34 points to its scoring output. They had 24 points in the second half.
» Lubbock Christian had a 37-27 edge on the boards in the win and the +10 rebound margin was huge for LCU, as StMU entered the game second in the LSC and 26th nationally in rebound margin at +9.0 on the season. The Rattlers also entered the game averaging 41.3 rebounds per game.
» StMU entered the game leading the LSC with a pace of 4.6 blocks per game, but LCU had a 7-1 advantage in blocks.
» The win improved LCU to 5-0 this season at home.
» LCU remains unbeaten in Lubbock all-time against StMU, as the Lady Chaps improved to 13-0 against St. Mary's in the Hub City. The meeting was the 26th all-time meeting and LCU improved to 22-4 in the all-time series (overall).
Next Up
The Lady Chaps head to Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. next week and open a pair of games inside South Point Arena Thursday at 11 a.m. (Central) facing Florida based Embry-Riddle.
