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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Cassandra Vickery
44
Western N.M. WNMU 0-3
85
Winner LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LCU 4-0
Western N.M. WNMU
0-3
44
Final
85
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LCU
4-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western N.M. WNMU 11 20 7 6 44
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LCU 26 18 20 21 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brian Kortz

Lubbock Christian Uses Defensive-Minded Second Half Against Lady Mustangs

LUBBOCK, Texas – Facing one of the top teams in the South Central Region, Lubbock Christian University took an early 15-point lead after the first quarter and following a run by the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team in the second quarter, the Lady Chaps used a stifling defense over the final 20 minutes to defeat the Lady Mustangs 85-44 Friday night.

LCU (4-0) grabbed a 26-11 lead after the first quarter, but WNMU (0-3) fought back with a 20-18 second quarter to make it a 13-point lead at the break. LCU then clamped down on defense limiting the Lady Mustangs to just 13 points in the second half while they tallied 41 to claim the win.

Junior Ciara Fields (El Paso, TX/El Dorado) powered WNMU with 12 points, while adding a pairs of rebounds and an assist. Freshman Cassandra Vickery (Tularosa, NM/Tularosa) grabbed down a team-high six rebounds and added seven points.

The Lady Chaps opened the game on an 8-0 run over the first two-plus minutes of the first quarter. Senior Melody McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ/Mountain View) got the Lady Mustangs on the board with a jumper to end the run at the 7:11 mark.

Freshman Rachel Francisco (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) kept the run going with a trey a minute later to trim the deficit to three at 8-5.

After small runs by LCU, WNMU pulled back to within five a pair of times at 12-7 on a layup by Vickery and then a jumper by junior Megan Looney (Phoenix, AZ/Apache Junction) at 14-9 before the Lady Chaps closed the quarter on a 12-2 run for the 26-11 lead through the first 10 minutes.

Still down 15 at 29-14, the Lady Mustangs began to fight back after Fields hit two from the line. Francisco and Vickery also added two foul shots each to extend the lead to 6-0 and leave the deficit at just nine at 29-20.

LCU answered with an 8-0 run to go back in front by 17 and after WNMU pulled back to within 13 late in the half on a three-pointer by McLaughlin, the Lady Chaps hit one of two from the free throw line to close the half with a 44-31 lead.

LCU then came out on fire to start the second half as Fields and Vickery tried to slow the run hitting a layup and a three-pointer respectively, but it was just too much Lady Chaps. They used an 11-0 run during the middle of the quarter on their way to taking a 64-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

Fields, redshirt junior Lucy Benning (El Paso, TX/El Paso) and Looney all scored for the Lady Mustangs in the fourth quarter as LCU held the 21-6 edge in the final frame on their way to the victory.

LCU had three players in double-figures with Kailin Davis leading the way with 16 points. Both Caitlyn Cunyus and Maddi Chitsey tallied 15 points apiece. Tess Bruffey had a good all-around game with nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

WNMU made 15-53 (28) from the field, 6-22 (27) from three and 8-8 at the foul line. LCU countered with 31-56 (55) from the field, 12-18 (67) from three and 11-15 (73) at the foul line.

WNMU will play one more game in Lubbock tomorrow (Saturday) at 4 p.m. Central Time against St. Mary's (TX). The Rattlers claimed a 50-46 victory earlier tonight over UT Permian Basin.
 
 
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