On the Record

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 28, 2012) - The No.9 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals rallied in the second half for a 59-53 win over No.16 Southern Nazarene University Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center to break a program record with a 14-game win streak.  It was not the only record set in the NAIA Game of the Week, as LCU guard Nicole Hampton set the NAIA Women's Div. I record for consecutive free-throws made by notching 60 consecutive free-throws.

Hampton, a freshman from Canyon, Texas, helped keep the Lady Chaps Sooner Athletic Conference record clean (13-0) going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.  All six free-throws came in the final 4:06 of the contest, with her first trip coming with LCU leading 46-45.  The record breaker came with 25 seconds remaining in the game during her second trip to the line.  She not only extended the Lady Chaps lead to 57-51, but she tied the NAIA Women's Div. I record held by Jackie Weaver of Trevecca Nazarene (2005/2006) with her first free-throw attempt and then broke the record making the second free-throw of the trip.  Hampton closed out the game making an additional two with a trip to the line as 17 seconds remained in the game.  The mark of 60, which will continue into the Lady Chaps next contest, stands not only as a NAIA Women's Div. I record, but also as a NAIA single-season record in women's basketball.  The NAIA and collegiate national record comes from the NAIA Div. II ranks, as Deb Remmerde of Northwestern College (Iowa) made 133 straight spanning two seasons (2006).  The NCAA all-levels record and single-season mark is held by Jamey Gelhar of St. Martin's, as she connected on 78 consecutive attempts during the 2008/2009 season.  The streak from Hampton started on Dec. 1^st and has active through 13 games.

As for the game, the Lady Chaps had to rally in the second half after Southern Nazarene erased a 32-27 Lady Chaps lead with a 14-2 run highlighted by back-to-back three-point field goals from Samantha O'Shields with 10:56 remaining.  LCU responded with a 14-4 run, which included an 8-0 run amidst the surge, and took a 48-45 lead with 4:06 left.  O'Shields connected with her third three-pointer of the half with 3:16 left to tie the game at 48-48.  SNU would go the next 2:44 without a field goal and LCU would go on a 7-1 run jumpstarted by an old-fashioned three-point play by Emily Atkins.  The final nine LCU points came from the free-throw line.

The free-throw shooting for LCU was a little shaky.  The NAIA leaders from the charity stripe were shooting 50% (6-of-12) from the line until they closed the game making all 12 of their free-throw attempts to finish the game 18-of-24 (75%).  The 12-for-12 shooting performance came during the final 4:41 of the game, with six of the makes coming from Hampton.

The game marked just the fifth time this season and the first since Dec. 1 in which an opponent out-shot the Lady Chaps from the field (11-game span).  The Lady Chaps were 35.1% (20/57) from the field in the game marking just the third time this season the Lady Chaps have shot less than 40%.  LCU has not shot under 40% since the second game of the season.

Neither team was able to connect long range as successful as their numbers entering the game had indicated.  The two teams combined to go 5-of-25 (20%) from long-range, with LCU connecting on just one of 10 attempts.  Hampton hit the only LCU three-pointer.  O'Shields was 3-for-3 from long-range for SNU, but the rest of her teammates combined to go 1-of-12.

LCU had four players contribute double figures offensively led by a 14-point and 14-rebound double-double from Kelsey Canavan.  She was joined by April Ehlers (13 points), Hampton (11 points) and Atkins (11 points).  Hampton had to rely on her free-throws to put her into double figures for a 15^th consecutive game.  SNU was led by Abbey Marra, who posted a double-double with 18 rebounds and 14 points.

The Lady Chaps improved their overall record to 15-3 by winning the battle that featured seven lead changes.  SNU fell to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in the SAC. The contest was the final meeting between the two squads in a conference regular season setting, as SNU head to the NCAA Div. II ranks next season.  LCU, winning all four games of their home stand, returns to the road Thursday and travels to Alva, Okla. for a 6 p.m. tip at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.