DENTON, Texas (March 9, 2023) – A 7-0 run by No.2 seed Colorado Mesa, to close out the contest, prevented No.7-seed Lubbock Christian University from pulling off the upset bid, as the Lady Chaparrals eighth venture into NCAA postseason play came to a close with a 68-61 loss in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Friday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena.
The prior meeting between the two programs was on March 16, 2019, as LCU closed a South Central Regional meeting in Grand Junction, Colo. on a 7-0 run for a 56-53 victory. Friday in Denton, CMU returned the favor with a 7-0 run over the final 52 seconds, as LCU had rallied from a 61-52 deficit with a 9-0 run to tie the game 61-61 with 1:09 remaining.
The Lady Chaps (21-10) had three players score in double figures, led by Foster, who had 22 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Robertson added 13 points and two steals and Maddox helped out with 13 points and five assists.
Lubbock Christian did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 13 assists while turning the ball over five times. Maddox's five assists led the distribution list for the Lady Chaps.
The Lubbock Christian defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Friday's game, forcing 18 Colorado Mesa turnovers while committing five. Those takeaways turned into 15 points on the offensive end of the floor (15-7 scoring advantage in points off turnovers). Kennedy Chappell's three steals led the way individually for the Lady Chaps.
How it Happened
After playing to a 2-2 tie early in the game, Lubbock Christian went on a 5-0 run with 7:47 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Chappell, to take a 7-2 lead. LCU led for 7:57 of the opening quarter and the only time they trailed in the frame was the final three seconds, as Kylie Kravig hit a three-pointer prior to the horn for a 16-14 CMU lead. Audrey Robertson led LCU with five points in the period.
Colorado Mesa kept adding to that lead (had a 10-0 run with the final five points of the first quarter and first five points of the second quarter), building a 29-23 advantage before Lubbock Christian went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Robertson, to take a 30-29 lead. The Lady Chaps kept that lead for the remainder of the period and enjoyed a 32-31 advantage heading into halftime. Lubbock Christian was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 18 points. Maddox led LCU with eight points in the half.
The two teams went back-and-forth in the opening moments of the third quarter before Colorado Mesa went on a 9-2 run for a 42-37 lead. Foster connected on a pair of three-pointers less than a minute apart in the final 1:18 to tie the game at 47-47, but Kravig struck again, hitting a wide-open three-pointer at the buzzer for a 50-47 CMU lead heading into the final quarter.
Colorado Mesa kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 61-52 advantage before Lubbock Christian went on a 9-0 run, finished off by Foster's three, to even the score at 61-61 all with 1:09 to go in the contest. The Lady Chaps could not turn their rally into a victory, as the Mavericks outscored them 7-0 the rest of the way to hand Lubbock Christian the 68-61 loss. Lubbock Christian took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint. Foster led LCU with 15 points in the second half.
Game Notes
» The Lady Chaps put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 65 percent of made baskets. Five different Lady Chaps had an assist, with Maddox finishing with five (only one turnover).
» Grace Foster (22 points), Audrey Robertson (13 points), and Maci Maddox (13 points) combined to account for 79 percent of the Lady Chaps points.
» The Lady Chaps dominated the turnover battle, forcing 18 Colorado Mesa giveaways while committing only five.
» Grace Foster led the Lady Chaps with 22 points. Foster is now averaging 14.4 points in seven NCAA postseason games (she has 99 career points in postseason play). Overall in her this season, the 22 points was her 13th game with at least 20 points on the season. She also ended the season with exactly 22 points tallied in each of the last three games of the season.
» Lubbock Christian got a team-high seven rebounds from Grace Foster. She either led or co-led LCU in rebounding in 19 of their 31 games this season.
» The loss marked the close of senior Shaylee Stovall, who was appearing in her 109th career game as a member of the Lady Chaps. She leaves LCU with 81 career three-pointers.
» The loss was LCU's first-ever loss to Colorado Mesa, which was also previously known as Mesa State, as the Lady Chaps are now 2-1 all-time against the Mavericks.
» THE FRUSTRATING NUMBERS: LCU went 0-7 against teams ranked and receiving votes in the national top-25 polls (either D2CSC or WBCA). The Lady Chaps also went 0-10 in games in which they trailed after three quarters of play (trailed 50-47 after three quarters).
» LCU has qualified for a regional in all but one season of all the seasons they have been postseason eligible (2015-16 was their first season with postseason eligibility), as they were competing in their eighth regional. It is the first time they have lost in a regional quarterfinal and the first loss that did not occur in a regional final or in an Elite Eight appearance. LCU is now 24-4 all-time in NCAA postseason play and 15-3 all-time in regional contests.
» The Lady Chaps season closes at 21-10. It marks their eighth consecutive season to achieve 20-or-more wins.
