LUBBOCK, Texas – The Angelo State women's basketball team couldn't overcome a late start in the first half against the Lady Chaps, falling to 3^rd-ranked Lubbock Christian at the Rip Griffin Center, 77-46.
 
Sadie Misner would score a three pointer in the first 30 seconds of the half, giving Angelo State an early 3-0 lead over the Lady Chaps to begin the game. Lubbock Christian would keep the Belles from scoring for almost four minutes defensively until a foul drawn by Madeline Stephens would give Stephens an opportunity to score two free throws to cut the Chaps lead to 12 points. Stephens would then turn around and sink a three pointer to cut the Lady Chaps lead further to nine points.
 
With 2:51 left in the first quarter, Sawyer Lloyd would make a jump shot to bring the Belles within 10 points of the lead, 20-10. LCU would keep Angelo State from scoring for the rest of the quarter. Stephens would score a layup and draw a foul from the Lady Chaps, going to the free throw line and draining her and one free throw to bring LCUs' lead to 14 over the Belles, 27-14.
 
LCU would keep the Belles from scoring for almost three minutes, growing their lead to 26 over Angelo State, until Stephens would end their drought by sinking a jump shot to cut the lead to 24 points, 39-15. A three pointer from freshman Madisen Honea and a jumper from Lloyd would end the half for the Belles, trailing the Lady Chaps by 25, 47-22.
 
Lloyd would begin the second half for the Belles, draining a jump shot in the paint to bring the lead back down to 25, 49-24. Lubbock Christian would keep the defense strong against ASU, growing their lead to 29 points while keeping the Belles from scoring for over three minutes until a jumper from Jade Mbam 5:43 on the clock would bring the lead to 27, 53-26. Angelo State wouldn't score again until there was only 1:17 left in the third quarter with Lloyd making another jump shot to end the quarter for the Belles, 61-28.
 
A jump shot and three pointer made by Sawyer would cut LCUs' lead down to 35 over Angelo State in the beginning of the fourth quarter with 8:26 left in the game, 68-33. Angelo State would begin to find their rhythm in their shooting, with Lana Marov and Mbam both sinking three pointers and a jump shot from Misner cutting Lubbock Christians lead down to 28 with 5:34 left in the half, 71-43. LCU would make several layups and free throws to bring their lead up to 34 points over the Belles, but a three pointer from Stephens would bring the Lady Chaps lead to 31 points, 77-46. Neither team would score again before time would run out.
 
Stephens would lead the Belles offensively, scoring 17 points against the Lady Chaps. Stephens would grab seven total rebounds, two offensive and five defensive, while registering one assist. Lloyd would score 13 points, grabbing seven rebounds also against Lubbock Christian, one offensive and six defensive, grabbing one assist also.
 
The Lady Chaps finished the game shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range, while the Belles shot 32.1 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three-point range.
 
The Belles will return to action on Wednesday, January 20th as Angelo State plays Oklahoma Christian in a makeup game in the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center. Gameplay will begin at 5:30 p.m.