Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas — Both St. Mary's and Lubbock Christian entered Thursday's matchup with an undefeated Heartland Conference record and only one loss on the season.
Someone had to come out on top.
This time it was the Chaps who bested the Rattlers at Rip Griffin Center, 78-59.
In only their second loss on the season, LCU was able to snap St. Mary's impressive eight-game winning streak to drop it to 10-2 on the season and 5-1 in conference play. The Chaps earned to keep their undefeated conference record, now at 6-0, and improved to 10-1 on the season.
The road upset was not without its high points for the Rattlers. Freshman
Kiara Etheridge (San Antonio), who set the program's single-game rebounding record with 20 earlier this season, snatched eight steals against the Chaps Thursday night to tie the single-game record which was set last season by
Jackie Woods (Sr., San Antonio).
Etheridge also contributed in her usual fashion on the boards, leading with a team-high nine rebounds while adding four points.
Starters Woods,
Morgan Pullins (Jr., Franklin, Mich.) and
Dezirae Elias (So., Chandler, Ariz.) all broke double-digits against the Chaps with Woods and Pullins leading with 14 points apiece and Elias chipping in 13.
Elias played a well-rounded game, leading the Rattlers in assists with four while recording five rebounds and two steals.
The Chaps were able pull a quick lead on the Rattlers and maintain it throughout the entire game, going in the half with an 11-point lead, 34-23.
LCU was able to bolster this lead in the second with the help of long-range Chap shooting that saw nine 3's for the night as well as a controlled defense that saw just 10 fouls for the game while the Rattlers tailed 22 as a team.
With both their season losses suffered on the road, the Rattlers will have to find a way restart a new winning streak as they stay on the road to face Texas Permian Basin at 1 p.m. Saturday in Odessa, Texas.
