LUBBOCK, Texas (January 22, 2022) – Ashton Duncan matched a Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals program single-game record in three-pointers, as she connected on eight long-range shots and climbed the LCU record books in the process during a 72-39 victory for the No.10 Lady Chaps over St. Mary's Saturday afternoon in Lone Star Conference play. The victory inside Rip Griffin Center extended LCU's NCAA Division II leading home win streak to 98 games.
 
Duncan's eight three pointers matched her career high, while also matching a program single-game record. Bailey Haist first set the bar at eight three-pointers on Jan. 2, 2017 (at Texas A&M International). Duncan tied the record on Dec. 11, 2020 with eight three-pointers against St. Mary's, marking Saturday's performance the third time the feat has been completed by a Lady Chap (Duncan has two of the three performances and has the only ones inside Rip Griffin Center). In addition to the single-game record, the eight three-pointers for Duncan also moved her into third on LCU's career three-point field goals list with 238 in her LCU career. She surpassed Sierra Lovorn (Wilcox), who had 234 three-pointers from 2005-2009.
 
StMU's leading scorer, Hannah Wilson, opened the game's scoring with a bucket 27 seconds into the contest, but that would be the only lead of the game for the Rattlers and the only points in the game from Wilson. LCU responded with a 9-0 run, with four points of the run tallied by Allie Schulte and Duncan's first three-pointer of the game also in the mix. The Rattlers called a timeout and responded with a 5-0 run. Tonia Bilic connected on a three-pointer for StMU, cutting LCU's lead to 9-7 with 5:42 left in the quarter. The Lady Chaps erupted with a 12-0 run off four consecutive three-point attempts. Duncan had a trio of the three-pointers and finished the quarter with four three-pointers to help LCU take a 25-13 lead.
 
LCU had another run of three-pointers in the first half during the second quarter. Duncan led off a 9-0 run with a trey before Schulte and Shaylee Stovall followed to put LCU up 36-16 midway through the quarter. The Lady Chaps were scoreless the ensuing two minutes, as a pair of field goals by Michaela Kucera completed a 6-0 StMU run. Stovall and Duncan connected with three-pointers to end the Rattlers run and placed LCU with a 42-22 halftime lead.
 
Duncan and Stovall each co-led LCU in scoring in the second quarter with six points, and Duncan had 18 points in the half off 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. She also had four steals in the half. LCU was 10-of-18 (55.6%) from three-point range in the half.
 
StMU, 3-of-5 in the first half from long range, had two three-pointers in the third quarter, but they stood as the only Rattlers only field goals in the quarter. LCU outscored StMU 17-8 in the quarter. Duncan had two three-pointers in the quarter, with her eighth three-pointer hit with 6:05 left in the quarter, and LCU took a 59-30 lead into the final quarter.
 
LCU dressed 16 players and all 16 received playing time, as 14 players played in the fourth quarter. Reese Schumann led LCU with six points in the quarter, including a layup with 97 seconds left in the game, which opened a 7-0 LCU run.
 
The Lady Chaps attempted a season-high 31 three-pointers, making 12 of them for a 38.7% mark from outside. Duncan's eight three-pointers led to a 24-point performance and she was two points shy of her career high. She also notched a career-high four steals, helping LCU to their second-highest steals total this season (17). Schulte also had four steals, which added to her 11 points and eight assists (one shy of matching a career high).
 
LCU's steals total played a part of StMU completing the game with 34 turnovers, which is the highest turnover total by an LCU opponent since Dallas Christian was forced into 35 turnovers on Nov. 4, 2008. Their turnovers (forced) and 16 offensive rebounds led to 70 field goal attempts for LCU (their highest total since 70 in the 2019 NCAA Div. II championship game against Southwestern Oklahoma on Mar. 29, 2019). LCU, holding StMU to 31% (31/42) from the field, had a 28-shot margin in shot attempts (70-42), which is their biggest shot margin since Dec. 31, 2009 in Abilene, Texas against Dallas Christian.
       
The Rattlers fell to 1-14 overall and 0-4 in the LSC. Sydney Hardeman led the Rattlers with 11 points.
 
LCU, improving to 16-3 overall and 5-2 in the LSC, notched their 12^th consecutive win in the head-to-head series against the Rattlers. The Lady Chaps are 20-3 in the all-time series with the Rattlers.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's 12-0 run in the first quarter helped LCU cruise the rest of the game. The Lady Chaps nearly had a 9-2 lead slip away after StMU rallied with a 7-0 run. Duncan hit four consecutive three-point attempts, with three drained during the 12-0 run. They came during a stretch in which LCU made six of seven consecutive three-point attempts. The 12-0 run was during a span of 2:13 and put LCU up 21-7.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The eight three-pointers by Duncan marked her seventh game of her career with at least six three-pointers, which is the most by a Lady Chaps member. Duncan has played St.Mary's nine times in her LCU career and has 27 three-pointers all-time against the Rattlers. She is 27-of-54 (50%) firing three-point attempts in her career against StMU.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU returns to the road Thursday and heads to San Angelo, Texas for a 5:30 p.m. Lone Star Conference tip against Angelo State inside Junell Center.