CANYON, Texas (March 13, 2021) – Top-seeded Lubbock Christian University shot a whopping 81% (17/21) from the field in the second half, and it was a half that followed Ashton Duncan making five of her six three-pointers, as a 65.1% field goal shooting performance and 22 points from Ashton Duncan carried LCU to a 96-66 semifinals victory over No.5-seed Cameron at the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Central Regional inside First Bank United Center. The victory places LCU in the regional championship game to face No.2-seeded No.19 Southwestern Oklahoma State Monday at 6 p.m. in Canyon, with the winner clinching a berth to the Elite Eight Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.
 
Duncan, who became the first Lady Chap to make six three-pointers in a NCAA postseason game, made five three-pointers in the first half, with four drained in the first quarter of play. The Lady Chaps opened the game 1-of-6 from the field (shot over 70% the rest of the way) and the sequence led up to Duncan's first three-pointer, which capped a 5-0 run and gave LCU their first lead of the game. She would connect on three more three-pointers over the final 3:20 of the quarter to give LCU a 20-8 lead.
 
Her hot-hand continued in the second quarter, with five points in the first 5:53 of the second quarter to highlight an 11-0 LCU run for a 31-10 LCU lead. The Lady Chaps held Cameron to seven field goals in the first half and took a 41-19 lead into the half, behind a 19-point performance in the half by Duncan.
 
LCU caught fire in the second half, shooting 84.6% (11-of-13) in the third quarter. Schulte posted 13 points in the quarter and Emma Middleton (was 5-of-5 from the field in the half) provided 11 points, as LCU outscored Cameron 32-21 in the frame. They made 11 consecutive field goal attempts, connecting on their last eight attempts of the third quarter for a 73-40 lead to start the final frame.
 
Not one starter for the Lady Chaps played more than 1:45 in the fourth quarter, as LCU provided their bench some postseason play. The two teams combined for 43 points from their bench in the fourth quarter. LCU had a career-high outing from Brylee Winfrey, who posted five points and led LCU in scoring for the quarter. LCU's largest lead of the game occurred 2:32 into the fourth quarter, on an inside bucket from Audrey Robertson put LCU up 80-42.
 
Every Lady Chaps member active played at least 4:26 in the contest, leading to a slew of balanced production. LCU posted their program single-game for a NCAA postseason game with 15 steals, and they produced by 10 different Lady Chaps members. LCU also had 10 different Lady Chaps produce an assist (Juliana Robertson and Allie Schulte co-led LCU with four each).
 
The Lady Chaps also received scoring from 13 of the 14 players which played in the game. Duncan (22 points) and Schulte (21 points) combined for 43 points, and Middleton added 15 points to garner double figures. Schulte was 6-of-9 from the field and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line, which was a season high by a Lady Chaps member this season. She also marked the first Lady Chaps member in a NCAA postseason game to go perfect at the free-throw line with more than seven attempts.
 
LCU's 65.1% shooting from the field is a season-best mark and their best shooting performance since shooting 69.2% against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 29, 2014. The Lady Chaps also made 31 free-throw attempts, which was also a season high and LCU's most since making 34 free-throws against ENMU on Dec. 30, 2017.
 
TURNING POINT
In the final 6:45 of the first quarter, LCU went on an 18-3 run, with 12 of the points produced from long range shots by Ashton Duncan. LCU was 6-of-9 from the field in the span.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
There is no question of how the Lady Chaps will respond playing their first game in the NCAA postseason. LCU, appearing in their fifth NCAA postseason (fourth in which games are being played), have shot at least 50% from the field in their first game of the tournament in each of the prior three seasons. Here is the year-by-year of their field goal shooting in their first tournament game of that season:
 
2016 – Texas Woman's – 57.6% (34/59)
2018 – Tarleton State – 53.6% (30/56)
2019 – Tarleton State – 61.2% (30/49)
2021 – Cameron – 65.1% (28/43)
 
WHAT IS NEXT
LCU goes for their fourth South Central Region crown, facing Southwestern Oklahoma State, who defeated Texas A&M-Commerce in the semifinals. The Monday contest (6 p.m. in Canyon) pits the two teams that battled for the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship title, which LCU won in double overtime in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets go on sale online (www.gobuffsgo.com) at 9 a.m. Sunday morning.