TULSA, Okla. (March 7, 2019) – No.25 Lubbock Christian University opened the Heartland Conference Tournament setting a tournament scoring margin record Thursday with a 91-43 victory over Texas A&M International in the quarterfinals held inside Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC). The win advances LCU to Saturday's semifinal contest at noon against either Rogers State or St. Edward's.
 
LCU's 48-point margin of victory topped their prior Heartland Conference Tournament high of 46 points on Feb. 3, 2016 against Texas – Permian Basin (79-33), which had also been the Heartland Conference Tournament record. LCU's 91 points was their highest offensive output in their history in the tournament.
 
The Lady Chaps responded with run after run to push their all-time tournament record to 9-1. After TAMIU went on a 5-0 run to take a 5-2 lead, LCU answered with a 10-0 run, which was part of a 16-2 run backed by Allie Schulte (nine points) and Maddi Chitsey (seven points) combining for 16 points in the first quarter to give LCU a 24-13 lead at the quarter's close. TAMIU went a scoreless span of 7:31, which leaked 6:21 into the second quarter, while LCU was on an 18-0 run. Chitsey produced 10 points in the second quarter (17 points in the first half) and joined Schulte and Caitlyn Cunyus by connecting on a three-pointer, which was part of a 9-0 run to open the second half (capped a 16-0 LCU run). LCU's final "big run" came at the close of the third quarter. They closed the quarter on a 5-0 run and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to combine for a 13-0 run. Emma Middleton was LCU's workhorse in the final quarter, registering all 13 of her points in the quarter to notch a career high.
 
Middleton was not the lone Lady Chap producing a career high offensively. Freshman Laynee Burr contributed a career-high nine points, with seven scored in the second half. The Lady Chaps found success from outside. Entering the game with an all-time program shooting mark of 26.5% from three-point range at the tournament (all at UMAC), LCU was 8-of-16 from long range, draining three-point field goals at a 50% rate. Seven different Lady Chaps contributed at least one three-pointer, with Schulte leading LCU with two long-range strikes. They were 54.4% (31/57) overall from the field.
 
Along with holding TAMIU to a 28.8% (17/59) shooting mark from the field, which included a 9.1% (1-11) struggle in the second quarter, LCU's defense caused 23 turnovers. LCU matched a program tournament-high in steals with 12 (nine different players had at least one steal).  LCU has notched 12 steals in three of the four quarterfinal games they have played in tournament history.
 
The lone bright spot for the Dustdevils, who conclude their season 0-27 and extending their losing streak to 29 games, was Troi Lucas scoring 16 points and Christine Ortega bringing down 10 boards. TAMIU was outscored 21-2 from the free-throw line, as TAMIU was whistled for 20 personal fouls (compared to seven against LCU).
 
Maddi Chitsey led LCU with 20 points in the contest. She was 7-of-8 from the field and tallied her 20 points in 17 minutes of played. Schulte finished with 14 points. Every Lady Chaps member played at least 11 minutes and none of the Lady Chaps played more than 18 minutes.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's 16-2 run in the first half helped LCU turn a 5-2 deficit into an 18-7 lead. Allie Schulte connected on a three-pointer during the run to start a span in which LCU was 6-of-7 from the field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Lady Chaps recorded six old-fashioned-three-point-plays in the game. LCU had at least eight free-throws in ech of the first three quarters, while TAMIU did not shoot their first free-throw attempt until 4:17 remained in the game. The two free-throw attempts are the fewest by an LCU opponent under 16^th-year head coach Steve Gomez and TAMIU's two points from the line are the fewest allowed since Newman was 0-of-3 from the line on Feb. 7, 2015.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
St. Edward's and Rogers State face each other in a quarterfinal match Friday. LCU faces the winning team Saturday in a noon semifinal contest.