CANYON, Texas (March 12, 2022) – Ashton Duncan knocked down six three-pointers and is alone in the Lubbock Christian University record books as the program's career leader in three-pointers. She was also alone on the floor as the only No.9 Lady Chaparrals starter remaining when the final horn sounded, as Duncan's 25-point performance helped lead No.3-seed LCU through foul trouble and into the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Central Regional Championship Game with a 69-67 win over No.2-seed and No.7 nationally ranked Texas A&M-Commerce. LCU moves into the Sweet Sixteen and into the regional championship, where they will face No.1-seed West Texas A&M Monday at 7 p.m. inside First United Bank Center.
 
Duncan's performance culminated with a 20-point second half, and at a time the Lady Chaps needed her efforts the most. The Lady Chaps trailed much of the game, as TAMUC opened the game making their first five shot attempts for a 10-4 lead three minutes into the contest. An 11-4 scoring outburst by the Lions built their lead to 17-8 with 1:48 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
 
The Lady Chaps chipped away at the deficit in the second quarter. The Lions went a 10-minute stretch in the first half going 2-of-17 (11.8%) from the field, which included a four-minute stretch in which the Lions missed eight consecutive field goal attempts. A 7-2 run decorated by a three-pointer from Laynee Burr and a 7-1 run capped by Duncan's first three-pointer of the game tied the game at 24-24 with 1:08 left in the first half.
 
LCU trailed 26-24 at the break, with Burr and Duncan co-leading LCU with five points each. Both teams shot under 40% in the half (TAMUC was 3-of-16, 18.8%, in the second quarter from the field), with LCU going 2-of-6 (33%) from long range and the Lions scoreless from the perimeter (0-of-3).
 
The offense appeared in the third quarter and so did the whistles, as the two teams combined for 12 fouls and 17 free-throw attempts in the frame.  Duncan connected on a three-pointer 45 seconds, but the Lions responded with a 5-0 run and led 33-27 with 8:20 left in the third quarter. Fourteen of the game's next 27 points in the third quarter were registered from the free-throw line. LCU was 8-of-10 from the line in the quarter, while the Lions were perfect 7-of-7. The Lions final six points of the quarter were from the line, as they went the final 6:56 of the quarter without a field goal. Laila Lawrence had the Lions final field goal of the quarter for a 37-32 lead. Duncan nailed a three-pointer and LCU closed the quarter on a 14-6 run, with Duncan scoring the final three-points of the quarter for a 46-43 lead (LCU's first lead of the game).
 
LCU's 7-0 run to close the third quarter was extended to a 12-0 run, as Duncan opened the fourth quarter with five points (Duncan had eight consecutive points of the 12-0 run) and LCU pushed their lead to 51-43. TAMUC started to charge back and they ended a sequence of 10 missed shots with a trio of successful field goals. Duncan sprinkled in a pair of three-pointers, but the Lions had an 11-6 scoring advantage to cut LCU's lead to 57-54 with 3:13 remaining. With 1:55 left, DesiRay Kernal had a field goal and it put the Lions within two (58-56), but LCU answered with Grace Foster connecting on a three-pointer with 1:34 left. Foster would hit two free-throws with 46 seconds left and Maci Maddox had a huge drive and layup with 17 seconds remaining to extend LCU's lead to five, which held for the win.
 
Duncan was 6-of-7 from the field in the second half, going 5-of-6 from three-point range. LCU was 6-of-8 from three-point range in the half and finished the game 8-of-14 (57.1%) from long range. Overall, LCU was 46.7% (21/45) from the field.  Duncan was 8-of-11 from the field for 25 points.  Her six three-pointers places her with 276 three-pointers in her career, which moved her past Kelsey Hoppel (272, 2011-16) and she is LCU's new all-time leader in career three-pointers. The six three-pointers also matched LCU's NCAA postseason single-game high for three-pointers, also held by Duncan from a six three-pointer performance from Mar. 13, 2021 against Cameron.
 
While Duncan was LCU's only player in double figures, the Lions had four players in double figures, led by Dyani Robinson, who finished with 19 points. Symmone James (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Kernal (12 points, 10 rebounds) each had double-double performances for the Lions. The Lions fell despite having an 18-9 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers, 32-22 advantage in paint scoring and a 12-2 advantage in second-chance scoring. LCU had a 24-3 scoring advantage in perimeter scoring. The game marked the third game this season in which LCU held an opponent to one-or-fewer three-pointers, as TAMUC was 1-of-7 from three-point range.
 
While LCU improved to 28-6 overall on the season, they move to 13-0 all-time in South Central Region games and 22-1 all-time in NCAA postseason play. LCU, now 5-4 all-time against the Lions (they were meeting for the first time in an NCAA postseason contest), ended the Lions season at 27-5. TAMUC leaves Division II and joins the Division I ranks as Southland Conference members next season.
 
TURNING POINT
In a game LCU trailed for 26 minutes, the game had one lead change. It took place as LCU went on a 12-0 run over a span of five minutes in the second half. While TAMUC had 10 straight field goal misses, LCU made three consecutive field goals and added five points from the line. LCU, trailing 43-39 at the start of the fun, took a 46-43 lead into the fourth quarter, and led 51-43 at the close of the run.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU entered the game averaging 15.1 fouls per game and matched a season-high total with 25 fouls. The foul total was LCU's highest foul total in an NCAA postseason game in program history (the prior high was 19 on four occasions). Juliana Robertson, Channing Cunyus and Laynee Burr each fouled out Saturday. Cunyus had fouled out once prior this season and Burr fouled out for the first time this season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU and West Texas A&M meet in a Region Championship Game for the third time in program history and for the first time in Canyon. Tip-off inside First United Bank Center Monday is scheduled for 7 p.m.