Red-hot LCU downs Zias

LUBBOCK — Clearly, Tarleton State’s Kathy Thomas didn’t do Eastern New Mexico University’s women any favors on Friday night.

Thomas went 7-for-7 from 3-point range, a school record, and the TexAnns ended Lubbock Christian’s 18-game home winning streak with a 73-71 overtime win.

The Zias (1-5) paid a heavy price on Saturday night. LCU (4-2) shot nearly 80 percent from the floor in the first half and roared to a 101-49 win over ENMU in the finale of the Lady Chaps’ Thanksgiving Classic.

All 12 players played at least 10 minutes for LCU, and all of them scored — seven in double figures. The Lady Chaps finished at 69 percent for the game (36-of-52), including 10-of-16 from 3-point range, and for good measure went 19-for-20 from the free throw line.

Senior guard Haley Burton and senior center Callie Sandusky each scored 13 points for Lubbock Christian, which had 24 assists and just 11 turnovers. Burton also collected six assists and four steals.

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ENMU junior guard Shayla Williams works her way around Lubbock Christian’s Ashton Meeks during Saturday’s women’s matchup at Lubbock. LCU handed the Zias a 101-49 setback.

For the Zias, twins Jaylyn and Jordyn Cooper combined to go 6-for-12 from 3-point range, each making three. Jaylyn added a pair of free throws to finish with a team-high 11 points.

Despite their record, the Zias had been outscored by just one point in their first five games. The only loss by more than three came in a 67-58 setback on Friday night to Texas-Permian Basin, which suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday 65-61 to Tarleton.

ENMU was limited to 25 percent from the field, including 8-for-29 from 3-point range. The attempts fell two short of the single-game record for the program, set in 2008 against American University-Bayamon.

Jaylyn Cooper answered an opening 3 by Burton with one of her own to tie the score on the Zias’ first trip downcourt, but the Lady Chaps quickly took off on a 12-0 run that included back-to-back trifectas by Burton and the rout was on.

LCU went 24-of-31 from the floor in the half and led 59-19 at the intermission.

The Zias had only four more turnovers than LCU (15-11), but Lubbock Christian finished with a 25-3 scoring edge on the turnovers.

ENMU plays a pair of exhibition games next week, visiting Texas-El Paso on Tuesday night and New Mexico State on Thursday. Both are slated for 7 p.m. tipoffs.