LUBBOCK, Texas (January 22, 2021) – Texas A&M International shot 78.9% from the field in the second half, but their hot shooting performance in the second half was unable to overcome a 29-point lead in the third quarter, as No.2 Lubbock Christian University used a 21-7 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers and five three-pointers from Ashton Duncan to claim a 71-61 Lone Star Conference win inside Rip Griffin Center. The win extended LCU's home win streak to 82 consecutive games, which actively leads all of NCAA women's basketball.
 
Shooting was anything but "hot" in the opening quarter of play. TAMIU opened the game 3-of-16 (18.8%) from the field over the game's opening 15 minutes, while LCU was 4-of-12 (33.3%) over the first seven minutes before they made consecutive field goal attempts. Despite the shaky start for each team, LCU was able to gain offensive progress. They opened the game with a 6-0 run and closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run, which was started by a pair of three-pointers from Ashton Duncan to give LCU a 20-7 lead.
 
The run progressed to a 15-2 (it included a 12-0 run within the sequence), with Duncan hitting another three-pointer for her third during the run. The lead was built to 25-7 before hitting the half with LCU leading 32-17.
 
Duncan connected on two more three-pointers in the opening 1:27 of the second half, which developed into a 13-3 run. Schulte capped the run with a three-pointer and LCU's lead was built to 45-20. LCU made six three-pointers in the quarter, with Madelyn Turner successful on consecutive attempts and Channing Cunyus hitting a long range shot to build LCU's lead to 57-28 (the game's largest) with 2:53 left in the third quarter. It was TAMIU the remaining 12:53 of the game.
 
Trailing 59-34 to start the fourth quarter, the Dustdevils made five consecutive three-point field goals (two by Nicole Heyn and two by Hannah Dawson). TAMIU, ending the third quarter making five consecutive field goal attempts, made their first three attempts in the fourth quarter. They would close the game making six consecutive field goal attempts (three from three-point range). Over the final 3:50 of the game, after having a 9-0 run (three three-pointers) earlier in the quarter, TAMIU closed on a 17-5 run, turning a 22-point deficit into a 10-point loss.
 
LCU won despite being out-shot (51.2% shooting for TAMIU, compared to 43.3% for LCU) and out-rebounded (29-28), thanks in part to a 23-11 advantage in turnovers. The Lady Chaps, who committed two turnovers in the first half, had a 21-7 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers, giving them six games (out of seven played) in which they have at least 20 points from turnovers forced this season. The turnovers, and 10 offensive rebounds, led LCU to having a 60-41 advantage in field goal attempts. The 19-shot margin was the most by the Lady Chaps since having a 23-shot margin against UT Permian Basin on Feb. 20, 2016.
 
The win for LCU (7-0 overall and 7-0 in conference) marked the first time an opposing team shot over 50% inside Rip Griffin Center and LCU still won since a 78-72 win over John Brown on Feb. 28, 2004.  
 
Four Lady Chaps finished in double figures, led by Duncan's 15 points from beyond the arc. She was 5-of-10 from long range. Cunyus finished with 11 points and Emma Middleton joined Turner with 10 points each. Turner also had four assists, two steals and was +26 (plus/minus).
 
TAMIU (8-2, 5-2) had their seven-game win streak snapped with the loss, which was also their first road loss (3-1) of the season. Bre DeLon led TAMIU with 14 points and Nicole Hey (high school teammate of LCU's Courtney Andersen) finished with 11 points. The Dustdevils were 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the field in the second half (7-of-10 from long distance) after shooting 27.3% (6/22) in the first half.
 
TURNING POINT
TAMIU's 27-point outburst in the fourth quarter may have been more noticeable if not for LCU scoring 27 points in the third quarter. Over a stretch of 8:25, beginning with 1:18 remaining in the second half, LCU went 10-of-12 from the field and they were 6-of-6 from three-point range in the span. LCU outscored TAMIU 30-13 in the span, which proved to be significant.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
How rare was it for an opposing team to perform offensively against the Lady Chaps defense… Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the game marked the third time an LCU opponent has shot at least 50% against them. The last time an LCU opponent out-shot LCU (field goal percentage) and LCU still won was Dec. 17, 2018 at Western Washington. The last time an LCU opponent shot over 50% was on Dec. 1, 2016, as Southwestern Baptist (Mo.) shot 52.5% in Bolivar, Mo. The last time an LCU opponent shot over 50% inside Rip Griffin Center was Feb. 27, 2010, as Oklahoma City shot 54.5%.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The two teams start from scratch Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center for the second game of the conference two-game set.