LCU notches pair of wins over Hounds

LUBBOCK – Lubbock Christian’s women shot a season-best 60 percent and extended their homecourt winning streak to an astounding 112 games with a 77-55 Lone Star Conference victory over Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday night.

While the Lady Chaps (12-5, 7-2 LSC) shot the lights out, they were able to limit the Greyhounds (7-7, 4-5) to just under 30 percent from the field (18-of-61), including 3-of-24 from 3-point range. LCU shot 20-of-28 (71 percent) inside the arc and 9-of-20 from 3 in beating ENMU for the fourth consecutive time and 15th in the last 18, cutting the Hounds’ all-time lead in the series to 24-19.

Despite its poor shooting, ENMU kept the game in striking distance until LCU got consecutive 3s from junior guard Audrey Robertson and sophomore guard Rachel Haase to start a 10-0 run over the final four minutes of the third quarter for a 54-42 advantage. The Lady Chaps added the first four points at the start of the final canto, then later went on a 12-3 charge to lead 74-52 with just over three minutes left.

“I’m proud of our rebounding effort, holding LCU to one offensive rebound and winning the overall margin (34-31),” ENMU women’s coach Meghan De los Reyes said. “Every one of our players competed extremely hard tonight … but the ball wasn’t going in the basket for us.”

ENMU, which trailed 5-0 out of the gates and 15-6 later in the opening segment, got a 3 and a layup from junior forward Laz Saunders to edge in front 30-29 with three minutes left in the half, but Robertson’s 3 sparked a 6-0 Lady Chaps for a five-point lead at the break.

Sophomore forward Grace Foster led four LCU players in double digits, posting her sixth double-double of the campaign with 17 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and making both of her 3-point tries. Sophomore post Reese Schumann added a personal-best 13 points, while Robertson had 12 points and junior guard Shaylee Stovall 10.

Four players combined for all but one point for the Hounds. Junior guard-forward Deja Adrian posted 18 points and went 9-for-9 from the line for the second time this month, leading the team’s 16-for-17 overall free throw effort – they missed their final attempt – for the third-best single-game free throw percentage in program history.

Saunders and sophomore guard Bella Stone notched 13 points each, while senior forward Edecia Beck finished with 10. Saunders and Adrian each had seven rebounds, and Stone collected five boards and four steals.

LCU 89, ENMU 65 (men) – The Chaparrals (10-5, 6-3) scored 30 points off 18 ENMU turnovers and pulled away to their fifth win in a row over the Hounds, their longest such streak in the history of the series.

Sophomore guard Najeeb Muhammad tied his personal scoring best and came away with his sixth double-double of the campaign for the Chaps with 21 points and 11 caroms, shooting 7-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from distance.

Senior guard-forward Russell Harrison tallied 15 of his 17 points in the second half while sophomore guard Rowan Mackenzie netted 11 of his 15 before halftime. LCU shot 58 percent (28-of-48) from the floor and drained 12-of-24 3-pointers.

For the Hounds, junior guard Greg Johnson scored 15 points, junior forward Jahcoree Ealy had 12 and freshman forward Jose Marillo 11. LCU led in rebounds 29-23 and posted a 16-6 margin over ENMU in assists.

Still, though, ENMU got off to a fairly good start, leading for most of the first 12 minutes before the Chaps went ahead for the first time (20-17) on a 3-pointer by sophomore forward Alec Zambie. Leading by just four, the Chaps got a 3-pointer from Mackenzie and a buzzer-beating jumper by sophomore guard Aaron Gonzales for a 39-33 edge at halftime.

ENMU was still within 46-41 with 16:58 left after a layup by Murillo, but back-to-back treys from Harrison pushed the lead back to double digits and LCU built a 20-point cushion with 6:45 to go.

“We had a lot of foul trouble,” ENMU men’s coach Brent Owen said, with sophomore forward Errol White and freshman forward Blazej Czerniewicz both disqualified. “Tug (Johnson) played 32 minutes, and I’m pretty sure that’s the most minutes he’s played all year.

“I’m looking forward to the chance to play them in Greyhound Arena (on Feb. 11, where the Hounds are 7-0 this season).”

ENMU squads finished a four-game road swing on Saturday at West Texas A&M. Both teams will be at home for LSC crossover tilts against Texas A&M International on Thursday and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday.