FRISCO, Texas (March 4, 2022) – No.10 Lubbock Christian University's Juliana Robertson posted a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, while combining for 37 points with Laynee Burr (17 points), as the two supplied offensive numbers in a contest that featured a defensive tone. No.5seed LCU was able to overcome a 38.5% shooting performance from the field and advance to the Semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Championship with a 60-51 victory over No.4-seed Angelo State Friday night at Comerica Center. The win moves LCU into a 6 p.m. tip Saturday against No.1-seed West Texas A&M in a postseason edition of a Rivalry on the Range meeting.
 
Both teams had a sluggish start getting the offense going. LCU opened the game 2-of-11 and 4-of-19 from the field, while ASU opened 1-of-5 and 5-of-16 from the field. The consistency of poor offensive shooting led to a defensive battle. The game was played within a three-point lead margin for the opening 13:36 of the game.
 
Each team had four field goals in the opening quarter. LCU had three points in the opening quarter from Robertson, Channing Cunyus and Grace Foster to provide the Lady Chaps an 11-9 lead  at the close of the quarter. LCU's defensive trend continued in the second quarter, as they held ASU to four field goals in the second quarter as well. Burr and Robertson combined for a 6-0 run, which was part of a 14-4 scoring surge to provide LCU a 25-15 lead with 1:25 left int eh half. LCU led 25-17 at the break behind eight points and nine rebounds from Robertson. LCU led by eight points despite shooting 26.7% from the field (LCU was 3-of-16, 18.8% inside the arc in the half).
 
The offensive statistics started peaking in the third quarter. LCU had a 10-shot stretch in which they were 7-of-10 (70%) from the field, while ASU had a stretch of 15 shot attempts in which they did not have consecutive misses (10-of-15, 66.7%). The Lady Chaps led 34-22, three minutes into the third quarter, off a Laynee Burr jumper, but ASU responded with a 9-1 run and cut LCU's lead to 35-31 with 4:06 remaining in the frame. Robertson went on to score five straight points and the final seven points in the quarter for LCU to take a 44-37 lead into the fourth quarter.  The two teams combined to shoot 13-for-20 (65%) in the quarter (ASU was 7-of-10), as Robertson and Burr each co-led the scoring in the quarter with seven points each.
 
The two teams traded baskets much of the fourth quarter. ASU, trailing 55-44, had one last surge in them, as the Belles went on a 5-0 run to cut the margin to six points (55-49) with 2:46 left, but Macy Maddox drained a three-pointer to secure the win.
 
Robertson and Burr each had five points in the quarter and 12 points in the half. LCU shot 54.5% (12/22) from the field in the half (4-of-7 from long range, 57.1%), but were outshot overall in the contest 41.3% (19/46) to 38.5% (20/52).
 
The Belles had a duo providing their offense as well. Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant led ASU with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, while teammate Payton Brown had 14 points.
 
Angelo State fell to 15-13 with the loss. Their loss to LCU marks the fifth time they have suffered a postseason loss to the Lady Chaps, who are 5-0 against the Belles in postseason play (all-time). LCU (26-5 overall on the season) is now 16-4 all-time against ASU. The Lady Chaps improved to 8-0 all-time in LSC Championship contests.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's fourth quarter play provided the turning point, or preventing a turning point, as they protected the lead. Down the final stretch of the game, Maci Maddox connected on a three-pointer with 2:22 to end a 5-0 ASU scoring run. LCU had possessions resulting in points in which they purposely ran down the shot clock and then connected with points as the shot clock was in its closing seconds. Defensively, LCU held ASU without a field goal for the final 2:46 of the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Juliana Robertson's 20 points matched Emma Middleton's 20-point outing (Mar. 6, 2022 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce) for the best LCU individual scoring performance in a LSC Championship contest. In addition, Robertson's double-double (her third of the season) is the third double-double by a Lady Chaps player in a LSC Championship contest (all-time). LCU has 11 double-double performances since joining the LSC (this is their third season in the LSC) and three of the 11 performances have come at the LSC Championship tournaments.