HONOLULU (November 25, 2021) – No.2 Lubbock Christian University opened their play at the 2021 Oahu Thanksgiving Classic with a 16-0 run to defeat Minnesota Crookston 62-42 Thanksgiving Day inside The Shark Tank.
 
Allie Schulte, who led LCU with 12 points, had five of the first seven LCU points to help the Lady Chaps open with an offensive surge. The Golden Eagles missed their first six shot attempts and were forced into five turnovers over the game's first 7:24. Alex Page tallied UMC's first field goal with 2:36 remaining in the quarter and it would be their lone field goal of the quarter, as LCU took a 21-2 lead into the second quarter. LCU was 9-of-17 from the field in the quarter, with Schulte leading LCU with seven points to lead one of six different Lady Chaps to make a field goal in the quarter.
 
LCU went nearly four minutes without a field goal, but the Golden Eagles were only able to outscore LCU 5-3 before Caitlin Cunyus ended the LCU dry spell with a field goal to place their lead at 26-7 with 6:09 left in the first half. UMC went on a 6-2 run to pull with 14 points (30-16) in the first half, but Cunyus built the lead back with a three-pointer with 2:51 left in the half. Cunyus' trey would stand as the final points of the half and LCU led 33-16 at the break.
 
The Lady Chaps held UMC to 23.8% shooting (5/21) in the first half. Meanwhile, Cunyus and Schulte each had four field goals and co-led the Lady Chaps with 10 points each. LCU had a 12-0 scoring advantage off second-chance scoring and 9-0 advantage in points-off-turnovers in the first half.
 
The two teams traded points throughout much of the third quarter. With 2:29 remaining in the quarter, and LCU leading 45-28, LCU closed the quarter on an 8-1 run for a 53-29 lead. Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson each had six points in the quarter for LCU, who tallied nine field goals in the quarter (all inside the arc).
 
LCU held the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter and a 3-0 start, sparked by a Maci Maddox field goal, provided LCU a 57-29 lead for their largest lead of the game. Three of LCU's starters did not play in the fourth quarter, as nine bench members produced much of the playing time. Reese Schumann joined Maddox, producing the only LCU field goals of the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps shot 15.4% (2/13) from the field in the fourth quarter, bringing down what had been a 46% shooting performance entering the frame. LCU finished the game 39.7% (25/63) from the field. They were 4-of-25 (16%) outside the arc and 21-of-38 (55.3%) inside the arc.
 
All 15 players dressed played in the contest for LCU and no player played less than 6:14. Schulte led LCU with 12 points. Cunyus was LCU's only other player in double figures, finishing with 10 points. She led the team win rebounds (7), assists (4) and also had a plus/minus of +21 (LCU was -1 on plus/minus with her not on the court). LCU had 10 different offensive producers and 11 different players grab a rebound, as LCU had a 43-29 rebound advantage. The +14 advantage in rebounds is their largest since Feb. 15, 2020 (+17 vs. Oklahoma Christian) and their 49 rebounds was their largest total since Jan. 26, 2019 (50 vs. Oklahoma Christian). Of LCU's 49 boards, 15 were offensive, leading to a 19-3 advantage in second-chance scoring.
 
UMC finished 32.6% (14/43) from the field, with all 14 field goals inside the arc. They were 0-of-12 from beyond the perimeter. The Golden Eagles (1-5) received a game-high 14 points from Bren Fox, who also led UMC in rebounds (7).
 
LCU, now 7-1 on the season, played their first game on Thanksgiving Day since 2013, which was also at the Oahu Thanksgiving Classic. The Lady Chaps are 3-0 all-time in games played at the classic.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's 16-0 run to start the game put them into the driver's seat, and they never trailed in a contest for a second consecutive game. LCU was not shooting lights out during their 16-0 run, as they had seven missed field goal attempts, but they had five offensive boards off the misses and produced four field goals on second-chance opportunities.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UMC was 0-of-12 in three-point field goal attempts, marking the first time since Jan. 2, 2021 (last season at UT Tyler) in which LCU has held an opponent without a three-point bucket. It is the worst outside-shooting performance by an LCU opponent since Rogers State was 0-of-14 against LCU on Feb. 9, 2017.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Chaps have a "road game" to close out their trip on the Big Island, as they face Hawai'i Pacific at 4 p.m. (Central) inside The Shark Tank. LCU is 2-0 in true road games this season.