SAN ANTONIO, Texas (November 24, 2018) – No.3/10 Lubbock Christian University and No.1 Central Missouri combined for 21 three-pointers and despite a career-high 25-point performance from LCU's Olivia Robertson, UCM's 11 three-pointers were enough to carry them for a 67-62 win Saturday at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic inside Bill Greehey Arena.
 
Each team had more three-pointers than two-point field goals, as the combined 21 three-pointers made up for 53.8% of the team's combined 39 field goals. It was LCU's first game since Jan. 21, 2017 in which each team had at least 10 three-pointers. Eight different players (five UCM players) connected from long range, with Paige Redmond leading all players with a 5-of-8 success mark for UCM.
 
The "threes" started early, as the two teams combined for six three-pointers (three each) in the opening 1:27 of the game (LCU led 11-9). Megan Skaggs hit a three-pointer to ignite a 7-2 Jennies run, but Robertson answered at the other end with a three-pointer to tie the contest 16-16 (4:23 remaining in the first quarter). Robertson was 3-of-3 from downtown in the quarter, and her third of the quarter came in the final seconds to cut UCM's lead to 20-19 at quarter's close. Each team was 5-of-8 from long range in the quarter and each team combined for three field goals inside the arc (two for LCU).
 
LCU struggled from the field in the second quarter, making two of nine field goals and shooting 22.2% in the frame. Both field goals were three-pointers, as LCU was 0-of-2 inside the arc in the quarter. Despite the lack of field goals, LCU was able to come back from a 26-19 deficit and answer a 6-0 UCM run with an 8-0 run for a 27-26 advantage. The Lady Chaps went the final 5:32 of the half without a field goal, and a 7-1 run by the Jennies, to close the half, provided them a 33-28 halftime lead.
 
The squads combined for 13 three-pointers in the first half. LCU was 7-of-15 (46.7%) and UCM was 6-of-14 (42.9%) from long distance in the half. Robertson led all players at the half with 14 points off 4-of-5 shooting from long range.
 
LCU's dry spell ended with a span of 6:49, as Allie Schulte connected on a field goal 1:17 into the half. Redmond and Skaggs connected on back-to-back three-pointers for the Jennies to extend their lead to 44-32 with 5:51 left in the third quarter. Schulte ended the 7-0 run with a three-pointer, which ignited a 9-0 LCU run to cut the deficit to 44-41 with 2:25 left in the quarter. Caitlyn Cunyus nailed a three-pointer for the final field goal of the quarter and sent LCU to the fourth quarter trailing 46-44.
 
Schulte made it a one-point game (48-47) 35 seconds into the final frame with a three-point but Central Missouri had an answer with Redmond connecting from long distance. A minute-and-a-half later, Skaggs drained a three and UCM extended their lead to 57-51. UCM went the final 1:57 without a field goal, but picked up four points from the free-throw line to secure the win.
 
UCM, improving to 5-1, received 23 points from Skaggs off 7-of-12 shooting (3-of-5 from three-point range). She also added six rebounds, five assists and four steals. They also received 17 points from Redmond, 11 from Morgan Fleming and 10 points from Kimberly Crown. The Jennies, who defeated LCU in the Elite Eight NCAA Division II Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. last March, improved to 2-0 all-time against the Lady Chaps.
 
LCU (6-2), shooting a season-low 36.7% (18/49), had Schulte join Robertson in double figures with 15 points. She was 4-of-7 from long distance, and had five rebounds, four steals and four assists.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU was unsuccessful getting over the last hurdle when surging from behind against the Jennies. LCU was 0-of-2 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line on possessions in which trailed by three points or less (with one turnover) in the second half, while the Jennies were 5-of-9 from the field (two three-pointer) and 5-of-6 from the line in possessions in which they had the ball leading by three points of less in the second half.  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU, with two field goals in the arc in the first half, went a span of 16:20 from the first quarter to the third quarter without a two-point field goal.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU has a small break and will not be back in action until Dec.1, as they host Our Lady of the Lake at 1 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.