LUBBOCK, Texas (January 20, 2022) – Lubbock Christian University used a 17-0 run in the first half to jump out early and cruise to a 64-44 Lone Star Conference victory over St. Edward's behind a balanced Lady Chaparrals performance Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
LCU opened the game on an 8-0 run, with Channing Cunyus scoring half the points in the opening 5:36 of the game. The Hilltoppers missed their opening five shot attempts, but responded from the 8-0 deficit with a 7-0 run by connecting on three consecutive shot attempts. Ashton Duncan ended the SEU run with a three-pointer, which helped ignite a 17-0 run. The first 11 points of the run included additional three-pointers by Cunyus and Allie Schulte and closed out the final 2:21 of the quarter for a 19-7 LCU lead.
 
The run closed with a 6-0 start to the second quarter, with Laynee Burr capping the sequence with a layup to put LCU up 25-7 1:28 into the quarter. The sequence of scoring streaks momentarily discontinued in the quarter, as the teams started trading baskets. SEU guard and Lubbock native Lauren Catherman scored six consecutive points for the 'Toppers to cut the deficit to 29-15 with 5:08 left in the half. McCall Hampton closed the half hitting consecutive field goals to provide SEU with a 6-0 run to end the half to cut LCU's lead to 33-21.
 
Cunyus and Schulte each had nine points in the first half. Juliana Robertson also had seven rebounds and four assists for LCU in the half. The Lady Chaps shot 50% in each half and held SEU to 39.1% shooting from the field (27.3%, 3-of-11 in the first quarter).
 
Burr and Robertson teamed together to spearhead a 16-4 LCU run to open the second half, as they combined for 10 of the 16 points (six by Burr). The surge lasted for a span of 6:40 and provided LCU a 49-25 lead. The Lady Chaps received points from seven different Lady Chaps in the quarter and shot 63.6% (7-of-11) from the field, which led to outscoring the Hilltoppers 21-8 in the quarter for a 54-29 lead through three quarters.
 
All 11 LCU bench players saw time on the floor in the final quarter, including freshman Rachel Haase, who made her LCU debut (she had been injured to begin the season). Carli Bostwick, scoring a career-high six points, had a reverse layup with 5:07 left to give LCU their largest lead of the game at 60-33. All six of Bostwick's points were LCU's only points of the game's final 5:07.
 
Cunyus and Schulte co-led LCU with 11 points each. Burr also finished in double figures with 10 points. Robertson had a productively balanced stat-line with eight rebounds, six points, four assists, four steals and four blocks (blocks and steals matched a career high). Schulte and Robertson each had four steals, as LCU produced 13 in the game and forced SEU into 20 turnovers. LCU finished the game 49^ (24/49) from the field.
 
SEU (9-8, 2-4) was 39.2% (20/51) from the field and went 2-of-17 (11.8%) from long range. Bella Muscoreil was the lone 'Topper in double figures, finishing with 10 points. They were limited to two free-throws in the game, which is the fewest attempts by an LCU opponent since Texas A&M International had two attempts on Mar. 7, 2019 (SEU made both free throws, which marked the fewest points from the line by an LCU opponent since Western New Mexico had two points from the line on Feb. 12, 2021).
 
The victory for LCU not only improved their record to 15-3 overall and 4-2 in LSC play, but it placed their home record to 6-0 on the season and improved the NCAA's active leading home win streak to 97 consecutive wins (76 consecutive conference home wins). The Lady Chaps claimed their seventh consecutive win over SEU in the all-time series and have won 15 of the prior 17 meetings (LCU leads the all-time series 16-6).
 
TURNING POINT
LCU ended a 3:15 scoreless sequence with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter with Ashton Duncan's three-pointer. The shot not only sparked the 17-0 run, but it was the first of seven consecutive made field goal attempts by the Lady Chaps. Three of the first four field goals in the run were three-pointers (Cunyus and Schulte) and all were scored in a span of 1:42.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU matched a season high in paint scoring, as LCU had 36 points scored in the paint. The effort matched a Nov. 25 contest in Hawaii against Minnesota Crookston.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home Saturday and will host St. Mary's Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.