FRISCO, Texas (March 4, 2023) – For top-seed and No.11 Texas Woman's University, everything went right, and for No.4-seed Lubbock Christian University, nothing went right. For the first time in over 10 years, LCU fell by a margin greater than 30, falling 84-49 in a Lone Star Conference Semifinals contest inside Comerica Center Saturday. LCU is eliminated from the LSC Championships, but whether the loss was by 1 or 1,000, they are still expected to claim a NCAA South Central Region berth Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. when the fields of the NCAA Division II women's basketball's eight regions are announced during the Selection Show airing on NCAA.com.
 
The last time LCU suffered a loss of 35 points or more was on January 2, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Okla., as LCU fell 94-40 to Oklahoma City. There were a slew of similarities in the two games as seen here:
 
1/2/2010
LCU shooting percentage:28.2%
LCU shooting percentage from three-point range: 0% (0/15)
Opponents shooting percentage: 56.1%
Halftime score: 45-15
 
3/23/2023
LCU shooting percentage: 29.3%
LCU shooting percentage from three-point range: 7.1% (1/14)
Opponents shooting percentage: 55.4%
Halftime score: 49-15
 
Saturday, TWU hit 13 three-pointers and set a Lone Star Conference Championship (conference tournament) record with a 72.2% (13/18) mark from three-point range. They made their first seven three-point attempts and 10 of their first 11 from long range. Four different Pioneers connected from three-point range, including Ashley Ingram, who entered the game with three on the season and was 2-of-2 in the contest. TWU completed the task against a LCU perimeter defense that entered the game ranked eighth nationally, as LCU entered with a percentage of holding opponents to a 25.6% shooting mark from outside.
 
As for LCU, they were unable to find success outside. Grace Foster made her only three-point attempt and it was LCU's only three-pointer of the game. They were 7.1% from outside (1/14) which was a season-low and their lowest percentage from beyond the perimeter since shooting the same rate last season at Angelo State (Jan. 27, 2022).
 
Overall, LCU shot a season-low from the field (29.3%, 17/58). Foster was a bright spot for LCU, leading the team with 15 points off 6-of-10 shooting. LCU and TWU were even in points-off-turnovers, as LCU committed less than 10 turnovers in the game (9). LCU also received a career-high 12 points from Audrey Spurgin. On the struggling end, LCU had five different players with multiple shot attempts finish the game without a made field goal (those individuals combined to go 0-of-21 from the field). As a team, LCU opened the game 3-of-21 (14.3%) from the field, which included a 1-of-14 stretch.
 
TWU had 17 points each from Brielle Woods and Ashley Ingram. Woods made all seven of her shot attempts in the game, including a 3-of-3 performance from outside. Sadie Moyer added 15 points and was a +36 in plus/minus.
 
The loss dropped LCU to 9-2 all-time in LSC Championship play. The winners of two LSC tournament titles (in their four seasons in the LSC) fall in the semifinals for a second straight season. The loss drops LCU to 22-10 this season. They dropped to 1-5 on the season against nationally ranked programs.
 
TURNING POINT
TWU made their first four shot attempts of the game and LCU was hoping to survive a first quarter, which saw TWU have a 57.1% (8/14) to 15.4% (2/13 for LCU) advantage in first quarter shooting, but TWU opened the second quarter making seven of their first eight attempts. They shot 73.3% (11/15) in the second quarter, which included an 11-0 run, which was part of a 20-2 run.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Audrey Spurgin, who was 1-of-5 from the line Thursday against Texas A&M-Kingsville, tied an LCU single-game record in LSC Championship play Saturday, going 6-of-6 from the line. She matched Laynee Burr, who was 6-of-6 from the charity stripe against Cameron on Mar. 5, 2021.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
All eyes will be watching the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com, as all eight region tournament fields will be announced. LCU is expected to be included in the field for a seventh time in program history (this is their eighth season eligible for NCAA postseason play).