LUBBOCK, Texas (March 2, 2021) – Hannah Wilson had 27 points and 14 rebounds in a double-double performance for No.8-seeded St. Mary's, but the Rattlers needed more, as top-seeded No.1 Lubbock Christian University shot 86.7% from the field in the fourth quarter to cruise out of the quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Championships with a 76-52 win inside Rip Griffin Center. With the win, LCU will serve as host for the remaining two rounds of the women's basketball tournament and will face No.4-seed Cameron Friday at 4 p.m.
 
LCU's offense did not start off as hot as it ended. They opened the game 3-of-13 from the field and did not have consecutive made field goals until two minutes into the second quarter. Wilson had six points and six rebounds in the opening quarter and StMU twice had a three-point lead, but then the Rattlers did not score a field goal over the final 4:32 of the quarter, which was part of a 5:10 sequence without a bucket for the Rattlers. LCU took advantage of the StMU dry spell, going on a 9-1 run to end the half, which rolled into a 17-3 scoring run for LCU for a 23-12 LCU lead. Channing Cunyus, who had a career night from outside, with a pair of three-pointers in the span. StMU responded with an 11-4 run to cut LCU's lead to 27-23 with 3:44 left in the half, but LCU countered with a 7-0 run for a 34-23 lead. LCU was out-shot 40% to 34.3% from the field in the half, but had a 34-25 lead at the break, with 13 points in the half from Allie Schulte. Wilson had already completed her double-double in the first half for StMU, with 14 points and 10 boards in the half.
 
LCU held StMU to three field goals in the third quarter. LCU had a 12-4 run to stretch their lead to 46-31 with 3:37 left in the quarter. Cunyus had a pair of three-pointers in the quarter, and joined Robertson (four points), as the two combined for 10 points in the quarter. The second trey from Cunyus gave LCU a 49-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps exploded for 27 points in the fourth quarter. Nine different Lady Chaps had at least one point in the quarter, as LCU was 13-of-15 from the field in the quarter (no three-point attempts were taken). LCU had a stretch in which they made nine consecutive field goal attempts. The Lady Chaps enjoyed a 13-4 and 12-5 run in the quarter.
 
Lubbock Christian ended up shooting 65.5% (19/29) from the field in the second half, with Cunyus scoring eight of her career-high 14 points in the half. The Lady Chaps outscored StMU 42-27 in the half.
 
Schulte led LCU with 18 points in the contest, going 6-of-9 from the field. She was joined in double figures by Emma Middleton (15) and Cunyus (14). Middleton also added 10 rebounds. LCU had a 24-6 scoring advantage in the points-off-turnovers after garnering an 18-13 advantage in turnovers. The Lady Chaps shot 48.4% (31/64) from the field and held StMU to 37.0% from the field. Take Wilson (10-of-18) out of the equation and the Rattlers were a combined 10-of-36 (27.8%) from the field. Mya Culiver also added 10 points for the Rattlers, who had their record drop to 6-9.
 
The win put LCU with a 4-0 all-time mark in LSC Championship play. LCU, 16-0 overall on the season, also won their third game over StMU on the season and 10^th straight in the all-time series.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's 7-0 run in the second quarter turned out huge for LCU. StMU had just fought back from an 11-point deficit and had cut LCU's lead to 27-23. Madelyn Turner hit a basket, which ignited the 7-0 LCU run to take wind out of the Rattlers sails. The Rattlers went 2-of-15 from the field over a span late in the second quarter, which carried into the third quarter.  It led to LCU having a 17-3 run to take control of the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Emma Middleton has the only two LCU double-doubles on the season and they have come in consecutive games for the reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week.  LCU has also seen their highest individual scoring performance by an opposing player over the past two games. Lexy Hightower finished with 20 points Saturday for West Texas A&M and Wilson had 27 Tuesday.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The LSC Championships in women's basketball continues Friday, with LCU facing Cameron at 4 p.m., and No.2-seed Texas A&M Commerce facing No.3-West Texas A&M at 6:45 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. The winners of the two semifinal games will face each other Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.