LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas A&M International University women's basketball (9-16, 6-13 LSC) dropped a 71-36 Lone Star Conference road decision to the defending national champion, No. 8 Lubbock Christian Lady Chaparrals (22-3, 16-3 LSC) on Thursday evening.
In the opening 6:24 of the game, the Lady Chaps jumped out to a 17-0 lead, that featured 10 points by Emma Middleton. TAMIU quickly countered and registered five-straight points including a Jaden Gonzales three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Patrycja Jaworska cut their deficit to a dozen (17-5) with two minutes showing on the first quarter clock.
Josselin Geer knocked down two shots from the charity stripe for the Dustdevils to close out the first quarter at a score of 22-7 in favor of the home team.
In the second period, the Lady Chaps scored 12-consecutive points in a span of 2:45 including a trio of three-pointers by Channing Cunyus to help give them a 26-point advantage (38-12) with 5:01 to go.
The Dustdevils closed out the half strong as they put together an 8-0 spurt that featured two layups by Clara Fernandez and a Nicole Heyn three-pointer to trim the deficit to 18 (38-20) heading into intermission.
The Lady Chaps stepped on the gas in the third period as they registered the first 16 points to give them a 54-20 lead with 5:37 left in the quarter.
Julynne Da Silva Sa connected on two jump shots in the period but the Dustdevils trailed 60-26 after three quarters.
In the final quarter, the Lady Chaps extended their lead to a game-high 38 points on a Savannah Sumrall free throw at the 6:04 mark en route to their 71-36 victory.
Fernandez led the Dustdevils with 10 points (4-of-5 FG, 2-of-2 3FG) while Heyn scored nine points and pulled down nine rebounds. Eva Langton finished with a season-high three blocks.
Middleton recorded a game-high 16 points (8-of-11 FG) and added five rebounds while Cunyus (4-of-4 3FG) and Allie Schulte (5-of-9 FG, 2-of-5 3FG) tallied a dozen points and four assists apiece.
In the end, Texas A&M International shot 25.5 percent (13-of-51) from the field, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from three-point range and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the free-throw line while the Lady Chaps shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (3-of-4) from the charity stripe. Lubbock Christian held the advantage in rebounds (41-25), steals (13-4), assists (19-11) while TAMIU led the way in blocks (4-3).
The Dustdevils remain on the road for a LSC showdown on Saturday, Feb. 22 and will face Angelo State (15-8, 12-7 LSC) at 1 p.m.
