GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (March 15, 2019) – Olivia Robertson (18 points) and Allie Schulte (15 points) combined for 33 points in the opening half and No. 24/25 Lubbock Christian University, behind a 61.2% shooting performance, advanced to the Semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament with an 84-53 win over No.6-seed Tarleton State University Friday night inside Brownson Arena. Robertson finished with 23 points, surpassing 1,000 points in her LCU career.
 
LCU's 61.2% shooting from the field was a season-high and their best shooting performance since ironically shooting 62.7% on Nov. 21, 2017 against Tarleton State.  By the way the game started, a top-notch shooting performance didn't appear to be a possibility.
 
The Lady Chaps opened the game 1-of-4 from the field, while Tarleton State opened the game 5-of-6 from the floor. Kylie Collins' jumper 3:11 into the opening quarter built Tarleton's lead to 7-2. Schulte connected on a three-point field goal with 6:28 remaining and it ignited LCU's offense. They made six consecutive field goals, with three drained from long range, and the string of shots led to a 17-9 scoring surge for LCU, which placed them with a 19-16 lead with 90 seconds left in the first quarter.
 
Both LCU (63.6%) and TSU (60%) shot over 60% in the first quarter, but LCU was saving their best for the second quarter. LCU opened the second quarter 8-of-10 from the field, with back-to-back three-point field goals by Robertson mixed in (five three-pointers were made in the 10-shot span). The Lady Chaps finished with a 73.3% (11/15) shooting mark in the second quarter, while Tarleton State was 4-of-11 (36.4%) in the quarter.  Kailin Davis had a +18 plus/minus rating in the quarter. A 13-2 LCU run in the quarter and a 12-point output by Robertson and nine by Schulte in the frame allowed LCU to take a 50-28 lead into the half.
 
LCU made sure they kept the game out of reach in the third quarter. They shot 66.7% (8-of-12) from the floor in the quarter and outscored TSU 25-15 in the quarter. Maddi Chitsey contributed nine points in the quarter and LCU led 79-43 at the quarter's close. LCU was an accumulative 68.4% (26/38) from the field through three quarters.
 
The bench flooded the floor through most of the fourth quarter and LCU held firm to their lead. The Lady Chaos had a 17-9 scoring advantage from their bench.
 
Seven different Lady Chaps had at least one three-pointer in the game. Schulte led LCU going 3-for-3 from three-point range and LCU finished the game 11-of-18 (61.1%) from beyond the arc. The 61.1% outside shooting was LCU's best since shooting 61.9% from long distance on Feb. 10, 2018 against Rogers State.
 
The Lady Chaps received a game-high 23 points from Olivia Robertson, who tied a program NCAA postseason game-high going 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. LCU also received 17 points from Schulte and 15 points from Chitsey. They received a career-high six assists from Caitlyn Cunyus.
 
Tarleton has their season end with a 22-9 mark. Mackenzie Haley was TSU's lone player in double figures with 22 points. It is their second season in row to fall in the quarterfinals to LCU.  This season's 31-point margin of victory was a point shy of their 32-point win margin last season against Tarleton in their quarterfinal meeting inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
TURNING POINT      
Allie Schulte connecting on a three-pointer when trailing 7-2 was the turning point of the game. LCU opened the game missing their first two three-point attempts, but then connected on eight straight three-pointers  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
With a 3-for-3 performance from long range Friday, Allie Schulte is 5-for-5 in her NCAA postseason career from three-point range.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Chaps advance to the Semifinals, where they square off with Colorado Mesa Saturday at 8 p.m. (Central). LCU takes a 27-5 record into the contest.