SAN ANGELO, Texas (January 14, 2021) - Allie Schulte was 4-of-6 from three-point range, with a trio of three-pointers in the second half, to lead No.3 Lubbock Christian University to a 65-55 Lone Star Conference West Division victory over Angelo State Thursday night. Schulte's team-leading 20 points helped LCU open division play 1-0 and the win put a damper on the Belles season and home opener inside Junell Center.
 
Angelo State, which has had eight games canceled or postponed, looked midseason form to start the contest, as they opened the game on an 8-0 run. Following the 8-0 run, LCU's defense clamped down and held the Belles to two field goals the rest of the quarter (the final 6:24 of the quarter) and six field goals the rest of the half.
 
Emma Middleton opened the LCU scoring with four points of a 6-0 LCU run, and a three-pointers from Ashton Duncan and Channing Cunyus gave LCU a 12-2 run and a lead they would never relinquish. Cunyus popped another three-pointer to close the quarter and helped LCU end the quarter with a 17-4 run for a 17-12 lead.
 
The Lady Chaps opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run, which combined for a 25-6 run carrying over from the opening quarter. The 24-11 lead was not safe, as LCU was scoreless the following four minutes and ASU went on a 7-0 run. All seven points were tallied by Sawyer Lloyd, who had 10 of the Belles 12 points scored in the second quarter.
 
The momentum shifts continued throughout the game and LCU halted the Belles 7-0 run with a layup by Middleton and five straight points from Schulte, who helped LCU counter with a 10-0 run to build the lead to 35-21 before Lloyd hit a three-pointer at the horn to close the half with LCU leading 35-24. Lloyd finished with 14 points in the first half.
 
The teams combined for 10 field goals in the third quarter and six were three-pointers (three for each team). Lloyd connected from long range 1:49 into the half to cut LCU's lead to 39-30. Middleton and Schulte responded again for LCU with field goals (a three-pointer from Schulte) to put the lead back to double figures. The 5-0 LCU run was part of a 13-2 LCU run for a 50-32 lead with 1:04 left in the quarter. It was LCU's largest lead of the game.
 
Schulte made sure to help LCU keep a cushioned lead in the fourth quarter. Angelo's runs of 4-0, 6-0 and 4-0 were each ended by Schulte field goals. She had a three-pointer with 4:44 left to spearhead a 7-0 LCU run. The Belles ran out of time, ending the game on a 10-2 run over the final 3:20.
 
LCU had a 12-2 scoring advantage in the game in second-chance scoring, with a 10-0 advantage in the second half (5-0 in each of the second half quarters). Middleton, who had two of the four offensive rebounds of the second half leading to points, and Schulte combined for all 10 second-chance points for LCU in the second half. Schulte had a pair of three-pointers in the mix.
 
Schulte, whose career high is 21, finished with 13 of her 20 points in the second half. She was 7-of-10 from the field and also added four steals and three assists. Middleton was the only other Lady Chap in double figures, posting 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Lady Chaps produced 10 steals in the game, with eight swiped in the opening half. The steal total placed LCU with at least 10 steals in a game in four straight games… Their highest consecutive game total since they completed the task in six consecutive games in February of 2016.
 
Angelo, falling to LCU for a 10^th consecutive time (last win against LCU: Dec. 29, 2000), open the season 0-1 with the loss (also 0-1 in conference and 0-1 in West Division play). The Belles were led by Lloyd (19) and Sadie Misner (18), who combined for 37 points. They also received 11 rebounds from Madeline Stephens.
 
LCU improved to 5-0 with the win, which also has them at 5-0 in conference and 1-0 in division play. The also moved to 3-0 in road play.
 
TURNING POINT
Late in the third quarter, with LCU's lead trimmed down to 42-32, LCU went on a key 8-0 run. As ASU cut their deficit on 3-of-5 shooting, with a pair of three-pointers, LCU was able to answer back with Cunyus getting a field goal to start the 8-0 run. Laynee Burr had a strong drive go unrewarded, but after the ball spun off the rim, Cunyus was able to gather the rebound and the new life on the possession led to a Schulte three-pointer. Turner then capped the drive with a three-pointer for their 50-32 advantage.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
In the opening half, LCU had a nine-minute span in which they were 9-of-13 from the field and had hit three consecutive field goal attempts on three occasions. They went the final 26:36 of the game not making more than two consecutive field goal attempts.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The West Division two-games-in-three-days home-and-home series flips to Rip Griffin Center Saturday, with the Belles and Lady Chaps tipping off at 2 p.m.