LCU Wins Final Heartland Conference Tournament 78-51 Over Newman

TULSA, Okla. (March 10, 2019) – Four Lady Chaparrals finished in double figures in points, including a 24-point performance by Tournament MVP Maddi Chitsey and a double-double from Olivia Robertson (12 points, 11 rebounds), as No.25 Lubbock Christian University claimed their third Heartland Conference Tournament title with a 78-51 victory over Newman University Sunday afternoon at Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC). The win, which was the largest win margin in Heartland Conference Tournament championship game history, provided LCU an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Women’s Basketball Tournament.

LCU makes their third NCAA Division II postseason appearance in program history (this is their fourth season eligible) to an NCAA Division II postseason tournament. They will face Tarleton State in the South Central Regionals in Grand Junction Colorado.

The Lady Chaps did not leave much doubt early, as LCU answered Newman’s opening bucket with a 10-0 run. Maddi Chitsey scored LCU’s first seven points and LCU opened the game 5-of-5 from the field, with Caitlyn Cunyus mixing in a three-pointer. Allie Schulte made a three-pointer before Chitsey hit two more field goals to help LCU start the game 8-of-10 from field for a 19-7 advantage with 4:15 left in the quarter. Chitsey swished two more attempts in the quarter and finished with 13 points off 6-of-7 shooting in the frame, as LCU racked up 30 points in the quarter for a 30-12 lead. LCU was 13-of-21 in the quarter (61.9%) from the field and had a 16-3 rebound advantage.

LCU connected on seven three pointers in the first half of play (on 16 attempts) and Cunyus hit one of the three-pointers as part of her seven points in the second quarter. The two squads played an even-matched second quarter and LCU took a 47-28 lead into the halftime break. Cunyus and Chitsey each co-led LCU with 13 points in the half. The two teams combined for two turnovers in the opening half and all of LCU’s 47 points came from the field (zero free-throws attempted).

Haley Albers hit a three-pointer 1:21 into the third quarter for Newman to cut LCU’s lead to 49-33, but LCU responded with a 12-2 run. LCU outscored the Jets 18-12 in the quarter, with all 18 points balanced between Robertson (5), Chitsey (5), Cunyus (4) and Schulte (4).

Halfway into the fourth quarter, LCU built the lead to its largest (75-45) and then went to the bench for the game’s remainder. Chitsey added six points in the quarter before exiting with 24 points.

Cunyus was 8-of-12 from the field (4-of-7 from three-point range) and finished with 20 points to match a career high. Robertson, recording her fifth double-double of the season, had a well-rounded performance with 12 points off 5-of-8 shooting and added 11 rebounds and six assists. Chitsey was 9-of-14 from the field (2-of-3 from long distance) and had nine rebounds to miss out on a double-double. Schulte rounded out the LCU foursome in double figures with 13 points. She knocked down two of LCU’s 10 three-pointers made (10/27, 37%).

The Lady Chaps, 49.2% (31/63) shooting from the field, held Newman to 35.8% shooting from the field (19/53). Newman was led by Bria DeGrate (14 points) and Kaitlyn Potter (13 points), who was 4-of-5 from three-point range. LCU out-rebounded the Jets 43-26. For a second consecutive game, LCU kept their turnovers to less than 10, with seven in the game.

LCU closed their final Heartland Conference Tournament with an all-time tournament record of 11-1. They improved to 26-5 overall on the season and the Jets fell to 21-10.