LUBBOCK, Texas (February 22, 2024) – Recreation & Convocation Center was a shooter's gym Thursday night in a Lone Star Conference contest between Lubbock Christian University and St. Edward's. Both teams shot over 50-percent through much of the game, but LCU used an 8-1 and 9-2 run in the second half, and a 19-point performance from Audrey Robertson, to outlast the Hilltoppers 66-58 for the road victory.
 
The Lady Chaps (19-7, 14-5) had three players score in double figures, led by Audrey Robertson, who had 19 points and five assists. Maci Maddox tacked on 16 points and four steals and Grace Foster helped out with 12 points.
 
The Lubbock Christian offense was very productive from downtown, making 42.1% (8/19) of their attempts. Foster, Maddox, Robertson and Taylor Thomas each drained two treys in the contest to co-lead the squad.
 
The Lubbock Christian defense caused its share of mistakes in Thursday's game, forcing 18 Saint Edward's turnovers while committing 13. Those takeaways turned into 19 points on the other end of the floor (19-12 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers). Maddox's four steals led the way individually for the Lady Chaps.
 
SEU (8-17, 5-14) received 15 points each from Ainsley Thunell and Janiah Perkins. The Hilltoppers shot 50% from the field in the first half and finished with a mark of 43.9% (25/57), as they too were seeking consecutive games shooting at least 50% from the field (shot 50.9% in their Saturday road win at Oklahoma Christian).
 
How it Happened
 
After falling behind 10-9, Lubbock Christian went on a 7-0 run with 4:52 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Reese Schumann, to take a 16-10 lead with 3:29 remaining. SEU went the final 3:11 of the quarter on a 9-2 run (closed on 6-0 run) and LCU entered the second quarter down 19-18. LCU trailed despite having six points from Robertson and a stretch in which they made six consecutive field goals.
 
Lubbock Christian started the second quarter with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Kennedy Chappell, to take a 25-19 lead. Like the opening frame, the 'toppers came right back and went on a 12-3 offensive surge to setup a 34-33 advantage at the half. LCU had led for 12:21 of the first half (trailed for 6:14) and they had nine points at the break from Robertson, with Foster (8) and Maddox (7) helping out with a combined 15 points in the half.
 
Lubbock Christian came out of haltime rallying and had constructed a 43-39 lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by back-to-back threes from Thomas, to expand its lead further to 49-39 with 5:23 to go in the third quarter. Another SEU comeback was brewing, as they responded from Thomas' treys with an 8-0 run to cut LCU's lead to 49-47 before Foster was sent to the line to give LCU a 50-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Lubbock Christian knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 18 total points, as they out-scored SEU 18-13 in the quarter. Maddox had a trio of steals in the frame and their 6-3 advantage in forced turnovers in the quarter led to an 8-4 scoring advantage in the quarter in points-off-turnovers.
 
Lubbock Christian kept its lead intact before going on a 7-2 run, finished off by Robertson's three, to grow the lead to 58-49 with 8:29 to go in the contest (capped a 9-2 run, which started with Foster's free-throws to end the third quarter scoring). The Hilltoppers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Lady Chaps still cruised the rest of the way for the 66-58 win, as neither team had a point for the final 4:14 of the game. LCU missed their final four field goal attempts in the span, while SEU closed the game missing their final seven attempts (SEU was shooting 50% from the field prior to closing on a dry spell).
 
Game Notes
 
» The Lady Chaps shot well from three-point range, knocking down 8-of-19 long range attempts. LCU is 21-of-41 (51.2%) from three-point range in their last three games. Thursday, Taylor Thomas, who entered the game with four career three-pointers in 48 career games, nailed back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter to put her 2-of-2 from long-range in the game. The pair of three-pointers marked a new career high from Thomas.

» The Lubbock Christian defense forced 18 turnovers. LCU has forced over 15 turnovers in four consecutive games, which is a mark they have not done since opening the first seven games of the season forcing the opposition into committing over 15 turnovers.

» Audrey Robertson led the Lady Chaps with a game-high 19 points. She also led LCU in assists (5) and plus/minus (12). Robertson was 8-of-15 from the field.

» Lubbock Christian got five rebounds from both Maci Maddox and Grace Foster to lead the team. Rebounds were at a minimum with all the successful field goal attempts and it led to LCU having a season-low 19 rebounds. The 19 rebounds is the lowest on record of game-by-game team record on file since the 2002-03 season.
 
» LCU improved to 5-4 when trailing at the half, 3-4 when trailing after the first quarter and 16-0 when leading after the third quarter.

» Grace Foster went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. Foster, LCU's free-throw leader, was making her first trip to the line since Jan. 25 (UT Tyler), as she had not been to the line in five prior games.

» LCU improved to 8-3 on the road and 4-3 against East Division programs.

» The Lady Chaps were making their first trip to Austin since Jan. 24, 2019 and the win places them with a 7-5 record in Austin against SEU all-time (won three straight). LCU has won 17 of the last 19 meetings and has won nine consecutive meetings.
 
What's Next
The Lady Chaps head south on I-35 and make a stop in Alamo City to face St. Mary's Saturday at 1 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas.
 
Portions of this article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.