Dirty Dozen

LUBBOCK, Texas (January 21, 2011) - For a second consecutive game, Emily Atkins led all scorers with 25 points and Nicole Hampton added a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, as the duo led No.9 Lubbock Christian University to a 74-65 win over John Brown University in Sooner Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center.  The win keeps LCU perfect (11-0) in SAC play and extends their win streak to 12 games.

Atkins exploded for 14 points in the first half and she helped LCU get off to a solid start.  An 8-0 run when leading 13-9 helped LCU jump out to a 21-9 lead (with 11:43 remaining) and they closed the half on a 10-1 run to take a 39-22 lead into the half.  Nicole Hampton also helped LCU in the half, as she had 12 points and eight rebounds in the half.

Despite a 22-14 scoring in the paint advantage in the second half, LCU was unable to cruise in the half. They would never extend the lead more than their 17-point margin to begin the half, and JBU chipped the lead under double figures on several occasions.  With less than nine minutes remaining, Jessica Berlin hit a three-pointer to cut the LCU lead to 55-47, but LCU would eventually use a 6-0 run off a pair of Atkins buckets and a layup by Hampton to put the LCU lead at 64-49 with 5:24 remaining.  Lauren Rogers scored all 11 of her points in the second half and Kortni Barenberg added 10 points in the half as well to make things interesting for the Golden Eagles.  JBU shot 57.7% (15/26) from the field in the second half and hit five three pointers. 

Hampton, who had her fifth double-double and matched a career high in rebounds, and Atkins were the only double-figure producers offensively for the Lady Chaps.  The Lady Chaps shot 52.2% from the field (24/46) and had a 38-24 advantage in paint scoring.  JBU received 17 points in the losing cause from Barenberg, who was one of four players in double figures for RSU.  They also received 13 points from Sierra Shipley, 11 from Rogers and 10 from Chelsea Garrison.  Atkins was 7-of-12 from the field for LCU and also hit three three-pointers.  Along with her double-double, Hampton also had six steals to match a career high.  She was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line to extend her streak of consecutive made free throws to 52.  The NAIA record is 57 held by Jackie Weaver of Trevecca Nazarene from the 2005/2006 season.

LCU, 14-3 overall, is one win away from matching their program mark of 13 consecutive wins, which was set under head coach Miles Waters in the 1996/1997 season.  Of their current 11-0 SAC record, LCU has only had three of their wins decided by single digits.  Two have been against John Brown.  The Golden Eagles fell to 9-11 overall and 3-9 in SAC play.  LCU returns to action Thursday at 5:45 p.m. hosting University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma inside Rip Griffin Center.