Lady Chaps Defeats No.1 OCU

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 12, 2012) - April Ehlers exploded with 17 second half points and was one of five Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals to post double figures in points, as the No.12 Lady Chaps notched their second win ever over a top-ranked squad, routing No.1 Oklahoma City University 88-66 at Abe Lemons Arena Thursday night in Sooner Athletic Conference action.

LCU was firing on all cylinders early and went on a 9-0 run following an opening three-pointer by Stars guard Lauren Goober, who hit four three-pointers in the opening half.  Nicole Hampton jump started the 9-0 with a three-point field goal.  OCU rallied back and tied the game at 12-12 with 12:06 remaining in the half.  The rally did not deter the Lady Chaps, as they responded with an 8-0 run with all the points coming from the free-throw line.  The Lady Chaps eventually built a 43-31 lead before heading into the half leading 43-35.  LCU shot 59.1% (13/22) from the field in the opening half and received double-figure production in the half from Brittany Roberts (12 points), Emily Atkins (11 points) and Kelsey Canavan (10 points).

A jumper by Desiree Jeffries two minutes into the second half cut the OCU deficit to 43-40, but that would be as close as they would get.  LCU pulled away during a five-minute stretch by out-scoring OCU 19-4 and receiving eight of the points from Ehlers.  The surge gave LCU a 72-50 lead with 9:29 remaining.  The Lady Chaps led as much as 25 points on two occasions in the second half. 

Ehlers notched a career high with 19 points in the game, and Canavan notched her third double-double of the season by garnering 15 points and 12 rebounds for LCU.  Joining the pair in double figures for LCU was Roberts (19 points), Hampton (17 points) and Emily Atkins (14 points).  It is the third time out of the prior four games in which LCU has had at least five players post 10 or more points in a game.  Gober led OCU with 17 points in the losing cause.

LCU did most of their damage from the free-throw line.  They were successful on 29 of 32 free-throw attempts (90.6%), compared to just eight attempts by OCU.  LCU opened the game 19-for-19 from the charity stripe.  OCU did not receive their first free-throw until 11:32 remained in the game and did not make their first free-throw until 9:07 was left in the game.  From the field, LCU shot 57.8% (26/45), while OCU shot 37.5% (27-72).  The Lady Chaps were 7-of-13 (53.8%) from beyond the arc. 

The win extended the Lady Chaps win streak to nine games and kept their flawless conference record intact at 8-0.  LCU is 11-3 overall.  The loss was the first of the season for OCU, who fell to 14-1 overall and 8-1 in the SAC.  The win is the second ever win over a No.1 team for LCU, with their last coming in 2006 in the Final Four of the NAIA National Championship tournament over then-No.1 Vanguard University.  It was their second game against a No.1 team this season.  LCU lost to then-No.1 Azusa Pacific 90-71 on Nov. 17.  The Lady Chaps are now 3-2 against ranked opponents and all five games have been played on the road.  Not only did the Lady Chaps garner a win at OCU, but the men followed with a buzzer-beating victory to mark the first time in program history that the Chaparrals and Lady Chaparrals have swept a conference doubleheader at Oklahoma City University.

The Lady Chaps, enjoying their record 8-0 start in SAC play, return to the hardwood Saturday at Mid-America Christian University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.