LUBBOCK, Texas (March 5, 2021) – Juliana Robertson posted a career-high 15 points and Ashton Duncan connected on five three-pointers for a game-high 19 points, as they were two of Lubbock Christian University's four players to finish in double figures, as No.1 LCU moved into Saturday's championship game following an 84-69 semifinals victory over Cameron Friday evening inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps will battle No.10 Texas A&M-Commerce (No.2-seed) Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center, with a tournament title on the line, which is rewarded with an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament.
 
Cameron, who knocked down 15 three-pointers Tuesday in the quarterfinals (vs. Midwestern State) and hit 16 three-pointers against LCU (a record for a LCU opponent) in their previous meeting (Dec. 19, 2019), looked as if they were going after another long distance record early, as their first two field goals were three-pointers. Of Cameron's first 13 made field goals, nine were from three-point range. A three-pointer with 3:38 left in the first quarter by Maighan Hedge provided LCU their second seven-point lead of the game. LCU responded with a 9-2 run to close their quarter, which included the final four points by Robertson to close the quarter with the score tied 17-17.
 
The Aggies first four field goals of the second quarter were three-pointers, but they were sprinkled into several 6-0 LCU runs. Katie King connected on a pair of three-pointer for the Aggies first buckets of the quarter, but LCU had a 6-0 run prior to the second three-pointer, and answered the second three-pointer with another 6-0 run for a 12-3 LCU run. Duncan (6), Channing Cunyus (6) and Robertson (5) combined for 17 points in the second quarter, and a long Duncan three-pointer with time expiring provided LCU a 37-31 halftime lead.
 
A pair of Cameron three-pointers early in the third quarter led to an 8-2 run to cut LCU's lead to 41-39. LCU held their lead and responded with a 7-0 run, which was part of a 20-5 LCU run to take a 61-44 lead into the final quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps pulled away in the fourth quarter. LCU had four consecutive field goals that were all from long-range (two by Duncan and two by Allie Schulte) and it led to a 13-3 Lady Chaps run to build their lead to its largest at 78-53. Cameron responded with a 10-2 run, but their deficit was too large to overcome.
 
The two teams combined for 23 three-pointers, with Cameron connecting on 13 of them. King finished with four of the three-pointers and led Cameron with 18 points. Cameron (11-7) forced LCU into 18 turnovers, while they turned it over 15 times (the fewest by an LCU opponent this season), but LCU outscored Cameron 22-15 in points-off-turnovers.
 
Duncan connected on five three-pointers to lead to his 19-point performance. Robertson went 5-of-7 from the field (she was 5-of-6 from inside the arc) and had seven rebounds to go along with her career-best 15 points. Schulte and Cunyus each finished with 12 points.
 
TURNING POINT
Cameron had cut LCU's lead to a two-point lead with 5:26 left in the second half, but then the Aggies went 12 minutes without any run, while LCU went on a 37-14 scoring advantage over the same span.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
In LCU's prior four LSC Championship tournament games (all-time), they had combined for 43 free-throw attempts (10.8 per game). Friday, LCU went to the line 31 times (season high), making 26 of the attempts (second highest total this season). LCU had a 26-14 scoring advantage from the line.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
After having several head-to-head contests canceled/postponed due to either weather or COVID, LCU and No.10 A&M-Commerce will finally battle each other Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. Tickets are available at www.lcuchaps.com/tickets.