LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 20, 2024) – Grace Foster poured in 26 points, including 13 in the third quarter, to help No. 7 Lubbock Christian University trim a 15-point deficit down to two. However, a late scoring drought enabled No. 3 Montana State Billings to secure a 71-58 victory Friday in the Holiday Hoops Classic finale at South Point Arena.
 
The Lady Chaps (10-3) had two players score in double figures, led by Foster, who had 26 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Audrey Robertson added 13 points and Maci Maddox added six points.
 
Lubbock Christian did a great job disrupting MSUB shots in the contest, coming away with eight blocks. Reese Schumann and Foster led the way individually for the Lady Chaps with two rejections each.
 
MSUB improved to 13-2 on the season and received an 18-point effort from Aspen Giese. They also received 15 points from Dyauni Boyce and 14 points from Layla Baumann.
 
How It Happened
 
After falling behind 8-6, Lubbock Christian went on a 5-0 run with 6:56 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Foster, to take an 11-8 lead. Robertson nailed a three-pointer to go up 14-9, but the Yellowjackets responded with three treys to close the quarter and led LCU 20-17 heading into the second quarter.
 
MSUB opened the second quarter scoring the first 12 points to complete a 15-0 Yellowjackets run, which featured three three-pointers. LCU was unable to form anything larger than a four-point-run in the quarter and faced their largest deficit in the quarter, twice trailing by 15 points. They trailed 42-29 at the half despite 13 points in the half from Foster. Robertson also added nine points in the half, as Foster and Robertson combined for 22 of LCU's 29 points in the half.
 
Trailing 49-37 3:32 into the third quarter, LCU responded with a 7-0 run, with five of the points registered by Foster. The Lady Chaps were able to use baskets from Foster to cut their deficit to 55-53 and 57-55 in the third quarter. LCU had a stretch in which they were 9-of-10 from the field and they were 9-of-12 (75%) from the field in the quarter. They scored 26 points in the quarter (13 from Foster) to trail 60-55, with 18 of their 26 points in the paint.
 
The Lady Chaps hot-shooting half came to an abrupt end, as LCU missed nine consecutive field goal attempts and went a span of nearly 10 minutes without a field goal. MSUB preserved the game, out-scoring LCU 11-3 in the final period.
 
Game Notes
» Grace Foster, Audrey Robertson, and Maci Maddox combined to account for 78 percent of the Lady Chaps points. Foster's 26-point outing marked her eighth game of the season to post at least 20 points. She was 7-of-13 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. Her 10 free-throws were her second-highest total of the season.

» The Lady Chaps were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying eight blocks as a team. The total is their second-highest block total of the season (had 9 on Dec. 12 vs. St. Mary's).

» LCU had an up-and-down second half, as they matched a season high for scoring in an individual quarter with 26 points and followed with a three-point fourth quarter, which was their second-lowest offensive quarter of the season (lowest was two points in the third quarter at Texas Woman's on Dec. 6).

» The loss dropped LCU to 4-2 on the season in neutral site play. They also fell to 1-3 in games against nationally ranked programs this season (all four games are against teams in the top-10 and none have been at home).
 
» The contest was the final game of the 2024 calendar year for LCU. The Lady Chaps produced a 23-10 (69.7%) record for games played in 2024. The record matches a 23-10 record they produced in 2023.
 
» MSUB defeated LCU for the first time in history, as LCU is now 2-1 all-time against the Yellowjackets.
 
Next Up
LCU hits the Christmas Break and returns to the hardwood jumping back into Lone Star Conference play Jan. 3, 2025 on the road in Portales, N.M., as they will face Eastern New Mexico.