No.22 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (20-4, 10-0 Heartland)
at ROGERS STATE (11-11, 4-5 Heartland)
Saturday, February 16 - 1 PM
Expo Center (Claremore, Okla.)
Radio: Online Only
All-Time Series: LCU leads 19-5

THE ROAD TRIO
Lubbock Christian University continues their road play with the middle game of a current three-game road trip, which has LCU putting their 13-game win streak to the test facing Rogers State University. The Lady Chaps, winners of 28 straight conference games, clinched at least a share of the Heartland Conference regular season title with their Thursday victory over Arkansas – Ft. Smith. LCU is 10-0 in the conference, as four games remain on the conference schedule for LCU. Newman is in second place with a 6-4 mark.  

THURSDAY TRIBUNE
No.22 Lubbock Christian University's inside play, behind a season-high 16 offensive rebounds, and defensive play stole the spotlight off a combined 33 points from Maddi Chitsey (17) and Olivia Robertson (16), as the Lady Chaparrals claimed a  65-29 road victory over Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) Thursday evening at Stubblefield Center.

Following Saturday's 88-19 home win over Texas A&M International, LCU's win Thursday marked the first time in program history in which LCU held their opponent under 30 points in consecutive games. LCU held UAFS, entering the game ranking third in the conference in shooting percentage, to a Lady Lions program-low 29 points off 24.5% shooting. While the Lady Chaps held TAMIU Saturday to one two-point field goal, Thursday they held RSU without a three-point field goal (0-of-5... the first time LCU held a team without a three-pointer since Rogers State was without one on Feb. 9, 2017). LCU produced 10 steals in the game (marking the first time this season they have had at least 10 steals in consecutive games this season) and forced UAFS into 19 turnovers, leading LCU to outscore the Lady Lions 11-4 in points off turnovers.

LCU's defensive presence arrived early in the game, as the Lady Lions went the opening 8:03 without a field goal. Meanwhile LCU was on a 12-0 run to jump out to a 12-2 lead. The Lady Chaps were 54.5% (6-of-11) from the field in the opening quarter and held UAFS to 1-of-12 (8.3%) shooting for a 17-4 lead. Chitsey was 4-of-4 from the field in the second quarter, leading to an eight-point quarter and helped LCU lead 32-15 at the halftime break.

Ashton Duncan had closed the first half with a three-pointer and Robertson opened the second half with a three-pointer to help spark a 10-2 LCU run. Robertson was 2-of-3 from three-point range in the third quarter and LCU was 53.8% (7-of-13) from the field in the quarter, leading to a 23-point-quarter for a 55-25 lead through three quarters. Laynee Burr buried a three-pointer three minutes into the fourth quarter to cap a 15-0 LCU run. The quarter's offense was fairly stagnant, as LCU (2-of-12) and UAFS (2-of-11) combined for four field goals and 17.4% from the field.

Robertson, who had 10 points in the second half, and Chitsey were the lone Lady Chaps in double figures in points. Chitsey missed her second double-double by one rebound. LCU had at least one rebound grabbed by 12 of their 13 players and finished with 42. Their season-high 16 offensive rebounds were the most since Jan. 4, 2018 (vs. TAMIU) and it led to a 19-2 scoring advantage in second-chance scoring.

The Lady Lions fell to 7-15 overall and 4-5 with the loss.

SUMMARIZING THE TITLE TALK
With four games remaining in the regular season (all conference games), LCU clinched at least a share of their second consecutive Heartland Conference regular season title (sixth conference title overall in program history and fourth in the Heartland Conference). It also marks the fifth time LCU will finish with at least a share of first place in the Heartland Conference. LCU had a first-place finish during the 2013-2014, when they were not permitted to claim the title label as part of their transition from NAIA.
 
FURTHER RESEARCH
The NCAA offices were conducting further research into LCU's program record 19 points allowed from last Saturday against TAMIU, as they are seeking where the 19 points, six field goals and one two-point field goal ranks all-time, or when the last time it has happened. They have been experiencing computer technical difficulties this week and at press time, they have been unable to compile the data.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Lubbock Christian is holding opponents to 46.5 points per game in conference and 52.8 per game overall this season, which ranks eighth nationally. The defensive efforts have led to LCU averaging a margin of victory of 19.4 points per game, which ranks 11^th nationally. The Lady Chaps have a 29.8 scoring margin advantage per game in conference play.

NO FOUL PLAY
The Lady Chaps rank 10th in the nation in fouls per game, with a conference-leading average of 13.8 fouls per game (12.5 in conference). Fouls have led LCU to outscoring their opponents 12.3 – 9.4 in points a game from the free-throw line. The Lady Chaps have shot over 80% from the free-throw line in eight games this season and they have a mark of 73.0% on the season (second in the Heartland Conference). Olivia Robertson leads the team (of qualified attempts), shooting 86.4% (76/88) from the line to rank second in the conference (32^nd nationally). 

FROM THE FIELD
Lubbock Christian continues to rank in the top-20 nationally in shooting, ranking fifth nationally with a 47.9% field goal shooting percentage. LCU has shot at least 41.9% in all but three games this season and have hit the .500 plateau on eight occasions, including five of their last eight games. They are shooting 46.9% this season in road contests.

SISTER CHRISTIAN
On Nov.10, the Lady Chaps game against CSU-Pueblo marked the first time in LCU program history in which a pair of sisters tallied double figures, as LCU received double-digit point production from Olivia Robertson, Juliana Robertson, Bobbi Chitsey and Maddi Chitsey. LCU has three sisters on the squad, and Dec. 8 marked the first game this season in which all three sets of sisters played in the same game. Dec. 10 at Texas A&M International, marked the first time all six sisters contributed at least a point in the same contest. On Jan. 17 against Rogers State, all six scored at least one point, marking the first time the occurrence happened at home.

LENDING A HELPING HAND
LCU has four players with at least an average of 2.0 assists per game. Allie Schulte leads the team with 73 assists (3.0 per game), with Caitlyn Cunyus (2.6), Olivia Robertson (56, 2.3) and Bobbi Chitsey (2.0) also playing a role in the ball distribution. LCU averages 16.3 assists (leads the Heartland Conference) on 26.0 field goals per game. LCU has 390 assists (leads the conference), ranking 17th nationally in the category.

ROAD JOURNAL
The Lady Chaps are 6-3 in true road games this season, winning their prior six road tests. Olivia Robertson leads LCU in away contests with average of 18.9 points per game. LCU had been plagued by turnovers on the road. Prior to their Dec. 17 victory at Western Washington, LCU had committed 71 turnovers (23.7 per game) and had been outscored 91-26 in points-off-turnovers on the road. (an average of 30.3 - 8.7 per road game). Since then, in their last six road games, they have a forced their opponents into 102 turnovers (17.0 per game) and have limited themselves to 72 turnovers (12.0 per game), which has them outscoring opponents 103-62 in points-off-turnovers in the span (average advantage of 17.2 - 10.3 per game). Combining all road games this season, LCU has committed 143 turnovers (15.9 per game) and have been outscored 153-126 in points-off-turnovers (an average of 17.0 - 14.0 per road game).
 
ALLIE CAT
Sophomore guard Allie Schulte is shooting near perfect in her last three games played. In wins over St. Mary's and TAMIU, Schulte was a combined 10-of-10 from the field and 7-of-7 from three-point range. She averaged 14.0 points per game in the two games. Toss in Thursday's win in Arkansas, and Schulte is 11-of-12 from the field and 7-of-8 from long range. She has posted double figures in six of the prior eight games.

HAVING HEART
LCU, winners of 28 straight conference games, is the only unbeaten (10-0) team in Heartland Conference play this season. The Lady Chaps 10-0 record in conference has been led by Olivia Robertson, who has an average of 12.3 points per conference game. Maddi Chitsey (11.3), Allie Schulte (10.8) and Bobbi Chitsey (10.4) join Robertson in double figures in points. LCU has a 152-116 advantage in turnovers (forced) in conference contests, leading to a 181-100 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. They are also benefiting off an average advantage of 12.5 – 4.1 second-chance-points per conference game and their bench averaging 26.9 points per conference game. The Lady Chaps are shooting 50.4% from the field in conference and shooting 37.8% from three-point range, with an 85-37 advantage in three-pointers (LCU is 58.6% inside the arc in conference). Opponents are 32.5% from the field and 26.2% from three-point range. LCU's defense has a 94-46 advantage in steals in conference games, with Allie Schulte leading the team with 17 (1.7 per game).

BOARD GAMES
The Lady Chaps rank seventh in the Heartland Conference in rebounds per game (34.5, which ranks 265^th of 301 Division II programs), but they lead the Heartland Conference in rebounding margin with a mark of 6.7 (30^th nationally). Olivia Robertson leads LCU with 145 rebounds (6.0 per game). LCU has only been out-rebounded twice over the prior 21 games and they have 102 more rebounds through 10 conference games (+10.2 per conference game).

DOWNTOWN
The Lady Chaps rank 32^nd nationally with 192 three-pointers on the season and is fourth with a shooting mark of 38.9% from long range. Allie Schulte leads the team, hitting three-pointers at a pace of 50.6% on the season (42/83), with 42 three-pointers ranking fifth in the conference. Bobbi Chitsey is 17-of-36 (.472) from three-point range in conference play, with the 17 three-pointers in conference (1.7 per game) leading the team.
 
IN DEPTH
Looking inside the Lady Chaps current 13-game win streak, it is nearly split with a 6-0 home and 6-0 road record (1-0 in neutral site play). Olivia Robertson (13.2), Maddi Chitsey (11.9) and Bobbi Chitsey (11.6) are each averaging double figures in the current streak. LCU is shooting 48.5% from the field in the streak and they have an 102-56 advantage in three-point field goals. Schulte (20-of-47, .465) and Bobbi Chitsey (21-of-47, 44.7%) lead LCU from long range in the streak. Of the 13 games, LCU has had five different players lead them in individual game scoring.   
 
IF A WIN HAPPENS
The Heartland Conference announced this week that tickets for the Heartland Conference Tournament are on sale (www.heartlandsports.org/bbchampionship). The tournament is scheduled in Tulsa, Okla. for a fourth consecutive season and the 2019 edition runs Mar. 7-10. If LCU claims the No.1-seed, they will face the No.8-seed on Thursday, Mar. 7 at 5 p.m. inside Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC).
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT RSU
- Rogers State is 11-11 on the season and are 5-4 in Heartland Conference play following a 59-56 win Wednesday night at St. Edward's improve to 3-6 in road play.
- The Hillcats went 10-17 last season, with a 5-9 record in the Heartland Conference. They opened this season with a No.7 preseason ranking in the conference preseason poll.
- Saturday's game will mark LCU's final trip to Expo Center as a conference opponent. RSU and LCU each made the transition from NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference to NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference, but RSU will has announced plans to move to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) despite originally joining with LCU to move to the Lone Star Conference next season.
- RSU ranks second in the Heartland Conference in three-point field goal percentage (33.6%), behind LCU. Desiree Nelson has 55 three-pointers this season, hitting at a rate of 38.5%.
- Lauren Schuldt ranks 25th nationally with a conference-best 52 blocks this season (2.5 per game). She has had at least one block in all 22 games this season and has a streak of 25 straight games with at least one block.

SERIES HISTORY WITH RSU
LCU has 19-5 advantage in the all-time series after sweeping the series last season by a combined score of 152-76 (LCU won 82- 38 on Feb. 10, 2018 in Lubbock and 70-38 on Jan. 10, 2018 in Claremore, Okla.). LCU has won 15 of the last 16 meetings (RSU has one win in the series since 2010-2011 season), including the last 12 after a 71-50 win in Lubbock on Jan. 17. RSU's last win was a 78-70 win on Feb. 14, 2013. LCU is 8-3 all-time in Claremore in the series, winning the prior five straight meetings at Expo Center.

PREVIOUS MEETING VS. RSU
Jan. 17, 2019 (Lubbock, Texas.): LCU 71 - RSU 50
Lubbock Christian University, led by a 13-point performance from Allie Schulte, opened their Heartland Conference home schedule with four players in double figures and matched their second-best shooting performance of the season (53.1% from the field) to defeat Rogers State University 71-50 inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
The Lady Chaps eclipsed 50% shooting from the field for a fourth time this season, and the shooting was consistent in the contest. LCU shot at least 50% in each of the four quarters, shooting a high of 58.3% (7-of-12) in the second quarter.
 
LCU dominated the boards, out-rebounding RSU 34-14. The 20-rebound advantage is a season high and the highest rebound margin since out-rebounding Tarleton State (44-24) on Mar. 9, 2018. The 14 rebounds allowed is the fewest since holding Lyon College to 14 rebounds on Dec. 29, 2012.
 
RSU (8-8, 1-2) was led by Desiree Nelson, who converted on her first five three-point field goal attempts and finished 5-of-6 from long range with 15 points. Schuldt finished with 11 points. The Hillcats shot 38.5% from the field and struggled from the free-throw line, going 3-of-9 (33.3%). The 33% shooting mark from the line was the worst by a Lady Chaps opponent since Texas A&M International went 33% (3-of-9) on Dec. 17, 2015.
 
The Lady Chaps had no problems from the free-throw line, going a perfect 11-of-11 (%100) from the line. The mark was a season high and was their best performance from the line since a 22-of-22 performance from the charity stripe on Feb. 15, 2018 against Newman.
 
Schulte was 5-of-6 from the field in her 13-point outing. Bobbi Chitsey, Caitlyn Cunyus and Juliana Robertson each contributed 12 points. The four players in double figures combined to go 73.9% (17/23) from the field. LCU was 53.1% (26/49) from the field, and the numbers matched their performance on Nov. 23 against Kutztown.
 
LCU claimed their 12th straight victory in the all-time series against RSU.