LUBBOCK, Texas (February 12, 2021) – No.1 Lubbock Christian University shot 56.7% from the field in the second half and received 22 points from Emma Middleton to top Western New Mexico 75-39, completing a two-game non-conference sweep of the Mustangs. LCU became the second women's basketball program in NCAA Division II history to achieve 86 consecutive home victories, and another win inside Rip Griffin Center would tie the NCAA Division II women's basketball record.
 
LCU, who opened Thursday's game against WNMU with a 17-0 run, was unable to have the fast start as they had during their prior outing. The Lady Chaps opened the game 3-of-10 from the field, and they found themselves trailing 9-3 after Abi Walter hit a pair of field goals for a 5-0 WNMU run. Juliana Robertson (9) and Middleton (4) accounted for all the scoring in the opening quarter, as LCU trailed 15-13 after the opening quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps found their offensive stride in the second quarter. LCU built off a late three-pointer from Middleton at the close of the first quarter and opened the second quarter with the first 13 points for a 16-0 run. Middleton had 11 of the 16 points during the run. WNMU was held to two field goals in the quarter and LCU took a 30-20 lead into the halftime.
 
Three WNMU three-pointers in the third quarter helped prevent the quarter from being more lopsided as it was, as LCU scored 24 points in the quarter. LCU was 8-of-14 from the field in the quarter (57.1%), going 7-of-9 (77.8%) inside the arc. Ashton Duncan (7) and Allie Schulte (6) combined for 13 points during the quarter and LCU took a 54-35 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
LCU outscored WNMU 21-4 in the fourth quarter. They had an 8-0 run in the quarter and ended the game on a 9-0 run, with seven points scored by Lara Mason in a two-minute span. WNMU ended the game making two of their last 17 field goal attempts.
 
WNMU (1-3) finished the game 33.3% from the field. Olivia Lee led the Mustangs, finishing the game with seven points and 11 rebounds. They were plagued by 29 turnovers, as LCU outscored WNMU 34-5 in points-off-turnovers.
 
Middleton led LCU with 22 points and was one of four Lady Chaps to finish in double figures. Robertson and Schulte each had 12 points and Duncan finished with 10 points. LCU was 47.5% from the field and 62.5% (25/40) inside the arc. The Lady Chaps posted 48 points from the paint, which was a season high and the most since registering 48 points in the paint on Mar. 26, 2019 against North Georgia at the Elite Eight Tournament.
 
LCU missed more than three free-throw attempts in a game for the first time this season, but still shot 80% from the line (16/20). They outscored WNMU 16-2 from the line.
 
TURNING POINT    
WNMU missed their first seven shot attempts of the second quarter, while Middleton exploded for 12 points in the quarter. Middleton was 5-of-7 from the field and had five of LCU's six field goals in the quarter.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
As the horn sounded at the close of the first quarter and LCU trailed 15-13, it marked the first time this season LCU has trailed at the close of any quarter this season, ending a sequence of 40 consecutive quarters in which they never trailed at the quarter's completion.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU, improving to 11-0 on the season, is scheduled to play Thursday in Odessa, Texas against UT Permian Basin. They were to play A&M-Commerce Monday, but the weather has led to its cancellation. LCU schedule a game prior to their scheduled game in Odessa.