PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University women's basketball team got 20-point performances from both Kylei Leblanc and Carlea Owens as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half to avenge the season's earlier loss to Central Baptist, defeating the Mustangs 95-81 Saturday afternoon at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
Louisiana Christian (1-3) found itself in an early six-point hole, trailing Central Baptist (1-4) 10-4 with 5:30 left in the first quarter. LCU pulled the score back, tying it up at 14-14. The Mustangs would take a 19-16 lead to the second quarter.
 
The Wildcats started the second quarter on a 6-0 run as Jakiya Thompson and Leblanc both got to the rim, giving LCU its first lead at 22-19. That run extended out to 10-3 as a jumper by Kiara Perry gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the period at 26-22.
 
CBC responded with 10-straight points to reclaim their largest lead at 32-26 with four minutes left before halftime. LCU battled back to tie things up and the two teams went to the halftime locker room level at 38-38.
 
The last 3:30 of the third quarter proved to be the decisive time in the game. With LCU leading 52-51, a Thompson three-pointer started a 15-4 Wildcat run to open a 12-point gap at 67-55 following a lay-up by Owens with 13 seconds left. A CBC lay-up at the buzzer made it a 10-point Wildcat lead, 67-57, heading to the fourth quarter.
 
A Mustang three-pointer to open the fourth quarter got Central Baptist as close as they would get the rest of the way at 67-60. A Leblanc lay-up as the clock ticked under eight minutes left gave the Wildcats a double-digit margin which they would not lose for the remainder of the contest. The lead hit its peak at 16 points, 93-77, following a made free throw by Thompson with 1:30 left.
 
Leblanc picked up her third double-double in just four games this season, scoring 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She hit 12 of her 21 field goal attempts, including one from deep. She also added two steals and two assists.
 
Owens also had her second 20-point game of the season, getting 22 points on eight-of-16 shooting. She secured three rebounds, had a steal, and an assist.
 
Thompson came off the bench to score 19 points, hitting seven-of-10 from the field, including a trio of threes. She grabbed three rebounds, three steals, and had a couple of assists.
 
Amiyah Simpkins finished the day five-of-eight, including a three, to end the day with 14 points off the bench while grabbing six rebounds with two assists and a steal.
 
LCU hit 50 percent of its shots from the field and was 35.7 percent from above the arc in the contest. CBC converted on 42.4 percent of its shot attempts on the afternoon, including 30.8 percent from deep.
 
The Wildcats make the trip to Ruston on Tuesday for an exhibition contest against NCAA Division I Louisiana Tech. Tip-off of Tuesday's contest against the Lady Techsters (0-2) is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center and will be televised on ESPN+.