COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 23, 2021) – Top-seeded No.1 Lubbock Christian University had a 30-14 scoring advantage in the paint and held No.8-seeded No.15 Daemen College to 32 points from the field, as the Lady Chaparrals advanced in the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight with a 66-49 win Tuesday night inside Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). With the win, LCU, now 21-0, advances to Wednesday's Final Four (semifinals)  and faces No.5-seed No.20 Central Missouri 7:45 p.m. (Central).
 
LCU was able avoid any early jitters, jumping out with a 13-3 run with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Madelyn Turner and Emma Middleton each had consecutive three-pointers during an 8-0 portion of the run. LCU shot 50% from the field in the quarter and held Daemen to 35.7% shooting for a 20-14 lead through the opening 10 minutes.
 
Both teams defense stepped up in the second quarter and the offense was tossed aside. The two teams combined for six field goals for the entire quarter. Middleton had a pair of field goals and they were part of a 6-0 run, as LCU had three of their four field goals in the quarter scored in a span less than three minutes. The run, which had ended a sequence of nine consecutive field goal attempts for the Lady Chaps, had LCU's lead at 28-19 before a pair of Wildcats free-throws brought the score into the half with LCU leading 28-21.
 
LCU was 4-of-18 (22.2%) in the quarter, while Daemen was 2-of-11 (18.2), and the quarter shooting woes had both teams shooting under 35% at the half. Caroline White led Daemen and all scorers at the break with 11 points and much of her scoring was a product of six offensive boards leading to a 9-4 scoring advantage in second-chance scoring. Middleton led LCU with nine and helped LCU have a 12-6 scoring advantage in paint scoring.
 
Middleton scored LCU's first two field goals of the second half, but Katie Titus connected on back-to-back three-pointers and an 8-2 run had LCU's lead dwindle down to a one-possession game (32-29) 3:24 into the third quarter.
 
An and-one three-point play by Schulte jump-started a 12-0 LCU run, and the game's separation began at that point, as the run gave LCU a 44-29 lead with 2:19 left in the quarter. Schulte hit a traditional three-pointer at the buzzer of the quarter for six points in the quarter to join Middleton in combining for 14 points in the frame for a 49-33 lead.
 
LCU also connected on an ensuing three-pointer (to start the fourth quarter scoring) by Madelyn Turner, and Duncan hit two more, for three three-pointers before the Wildcats received their first field goal of the quarter. Daemen went over five minutes without a field goal and LCU built their lead up to a 22-point margin (60-38,5:48 remaining) before the final buzzer sounded with LCU winning 66-49
 
Middleton led LCU with 17 points and matched a career high with three steals. Duncan and Schulte each finished with 12 points, with Duncan also adding a career-high eight rebounds and Schulte providing four of LCU's 13 steals in the game. The swipes for LCU led to a 20-5 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers (LCU had a 15-6 advantage in turnovers). LCU won by 17 points despite shooting their second-lowest field goal shooting mark of the season (38.8%).
 
The low shooting mark was better than Daemen's mark of 31.1% (14/45). The Wildcats, outscoring LCU 17-5 from the line, were held to 32 points from the field. Caroline led all scorers with 20 points in the losing cause. The Wildcats, making their Elite Eight debut, had their season close with a 14-3 record. The Amherst, N.Y. based program marked the first New York based program to face LCU in program history.
 
TURNING POINT
The 12-0 LCU run in the third quarter helped LCU hold-off a Daemen burst of momentum, as they had closed their deficit to three points (32-29). LCU had five field goals in the run, which was capped by a three-pointer from Channing Cunyus (the only three-pointer of the stretch).
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU, outscored 17-5 from the free-throw line, had their lowest amount of free-throw makes and attempts from the line this season. The five attempts (and makes) was their lowest amount since Feb. 20, 2020 (made 3-of-4 against Texas A&M International). It was the first time since Jan. 3, 2021 in which LCU had attempted less than 10 free-throws. LCU did make all five of their attempts Tuesday and they are 23-of-24 (95.8%) from the stripe over the prior two games, which has improved their nation-leading free-throw percentage to 82.9%.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU improved to 18-1 all-time in NCAA postseason play, and they are 21-0 overall on the season. Wednesday's game against Central Missouri from the GCCC will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network.