TYLER, Texas (January 2, 2021) – A 16-2 scoring advantage in the opening quarter of play set the tempo for No.3 Lubbock Christian University, as the Lady Chaparrals claimed the biggest win margin since the 2018-19 season with a 73-26 road win over UT Tyler in Saturday Lone Star Conference action inside Patriot Center.
 
LCU held UT Tyler to 17.4% shooting (8/46) in the game, which marked their best defensive game since holding Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 17.2% shooting mark on Feb. 22, 2020. UTT went their first 13 field goal attempts without a make, finishing the opening quarter 1-of-15 from the field (6.7%). Meanwhile, LCU opened the game on an 11-0 scoring stretch, which included four points and four rebounds by Madelyn Turner.  LCU led 16-2 at the end of the first quarter.
 
As UTT opened the game making two of their first 23 field goal attempts, LCU's offense started to warm up in the second quarter. LCU had a pair of 9-0 runs in the quarter and an 18-1 scoring outburst, capped by an Ashton Duncan three-pointer, for a 37-5 advantage.  UTT did end a nearly-nine-minute sequence without a field goal by going on a 4-0 run, leading to a 39-9 LCU halftime lead.
 
LCU shot 53.3% (8/15) in the second quarter, with Allie Schulte (12 points) and Emma Middleton (10 points) tallying double figures in the opening half. Schulte finished with seven points in the second quarter, surpassing the 900-point mark in her LCU career.
 
The Lady Chaps had the game in cruise control in the second half and relied on most of their bench in the second half. UTT's offense remained as stagnant as the opening half of play. They were 1-of-8 from the field (12.5%) in the third quarter, leading to LCU extending their lead to 52-16.
 
LCU connected on 11 three-pointers in the game (on 29 attempts, which matched last season's season-high total), with three tallied in the final quarter of play. No starter appeared on the floor in the final quarter and the bench members shot 60% (9-of-15) from the field in the frame. Savannah Sumrall connected with a three-pointer on three consecutive trips up the floor and finished the game with a career high four three-pointers and 12 points.
 
Schulte led LCU in the contest with 15 points and also supplied a game-high seven rebounds and matched a career high with two blocks. She also had a team-leading three steals (LCU had 12 steals in the game). Sumrall (12) and Middleton (10) joined her in double figures in points.
 
No Lady Chap appeared on the floor more than 19:03 and every player played at least 6:58, as LCU played 14 players in the contest. Twelve (12) different Lady Chaps had at least a rebound, in a 42-29 LCU rebound advantage. LCU had nine different players contribute to 23 assists.
 
UTT, falling in their home, conference and season opener, was not able to find balance production. Of their 26 points, 16 points were from the field and their starters were held to a combined 19 points (Shala Robinson led UTT with eight points). The Patriots were held without a long-distance field goal (0-of-5) and it marked the first time LCU held an opponent without a three-pointer since Feb. 14, 2019 (vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith).
 
The Lady Chaps, playing in their first road game of the season, improved to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. It was the second meeting all-time between the two teams (each meeting has been inside Patriot Center).
 
TURNING POINT
The 11-0 run avoided any turning point and put the focus on LCU's balance play. The contest was their first road game and it resulted in their first game leading wire-to-wire this season.  UTT was 3-of-24 (12.5%) from the field in the opening half.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU's bench notched nine field goals in the fourth quarter, which not only built the lead, but was more field goals than the Patriots recorded the entire game (8). The 47-point margin of victory was the most by the Lady Chaps since a 48-point win over Texas A&M International at the Heartland Conference Tournament (Mar. 7, 2019). It was the largest road win since a 50-point win over TAMIU on Jan. 10, 2019 and the largest conference win since a 49-point win over Oklahoma Christian on Feb. 23, 2019.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The two teams return to the hardwood Sunday at 3 p.m. in Tyler, marking LCU's first regular season Sunday game since joining NCAA Division II.