OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (12-12, 5-6 Heartland)
at No.20 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (21-5, 11-1 Heartland)
Saturday, February 23 – 1:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: Online Only
All-Time Series: OC leads 29-27

HOME STRETCH
For the first time since early December, Lubbock Christian University prepares for a contest following a loss. LCU had a bizarre and tough ending to a 69-67 loss Thursday in Wichita, Kan. to Newman University, which ended LCU's 14-game win streak, 29-game conference win streak and their first loss since Dec. 8, 2018. The loss was also LCU's final regular season road game of the season, as they make a quick return home Saturday to host Oklahoma Christian to begin a two-game homestand to end the regular season. LCU has already clinched the No.1-seed for the Heartland Conference Tournament, while Oklahoma Christian enters Saturday's play in fifth place, with three games remaining. They have a 5-6 conference record and they are one of five teams with six losses in the standings.  

THURSDAY TRIBUNE
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... No.20 Lubbock Christian University was whistled for a season-high 23 fouls and they turned the ball over 22 times to overshadow a 60% shooting performance on the floor, and the Lady Chaparrals had their 29-game conference win streak end with a 69-67 road loss at Newman despite a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double from Olivia Robertson Thursday. LCU's overall win streak also ends at 14.

With LCU up 67-66 with less than 10 seconds remaining, Allie Schulte was whistled for a push-off during the LCU inbounds. The foul resulted in Newman inbounding underneath the basket. Newman's Bria DeGrate drove in with the potential winning shot attempt, but bowled over LCU's Caitlyn Cunyus and was whistled for a charge. Prior to the ensuing LCU inbounds, the officials decided to review the play and decided to to overturn the original call on the court, which resulted in a block-foul on Cunyus and placed DeGrate to the free-throw line. DeGrate made the two free-throws. LCU, trailing 68-67, rushed into the front court and Robertson made a runner to give LCU the lead with two seconds left, but it was negated and traveling was called.

LCU entered the game ranked 10th nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.8 fouls per game) and the 23 fouls were the most since LCU was called for 24 fouls on Nov. 20, 2015. Nine of the fouls were whistled in the fourth quarter, with four called against Bobbi Chitsey.

Despite the humanity of whistles against them, the Lady Chaps did their part to let the game come down to the authorities. LCU, opening the game shooting 62.5% in the first quarter (10-of-16), built a 15-point lead in the first quarter and led 25-12 at the quarter's close. LCU let the big lead slip away in the second quarter, as they attempted seven shots due to nine turnovers in the quarter. Newman, who had an 8-1 scoring advantage in the first half from the charity stripe, out scored LCU 15-6 in the quarter to cut the Lady Chaps lead to 31-27 entering the half.

Lady Chaps entered the fourth quarter leading 52-45. Cunyus had a layup to give them a 63-56 lead with 1:40 to go. The final 1:26 included a Newman 13-4 run, with eight points from the line (by the Jets). LCU committed two turnovers and was whistled for five fouls in the final 1:26. They also missed two free-throws, as LCU was a miserable 11-of-20 (55%) from the line, while Newman was 19-of-24 (79.2%).

LCU was 24-of-40 from the field, and the 60.0% shooting mark was LCU's highest on the road since shooting 61.2% at St. Mary's on Dec. 19, 2015 and the highest in a losing effort ever under 16th-year head coach Steve Gomez. Robertson notched her fourth double-double of the season with a team-leading 20 points and 10 rebounds. Maddi Chitsey posted 14 points and sister Bobbi Chitsey contributed 11 points. LCU was 8-of-12 (66.7%) from three-point range, with Bobbi Chitsey (3-of-4) and Madelyn Turner (2-of-2) combining for five of the treys.

Newman, taking advantage of LCU's turnover woes with a 27-10 scoring advantage in points-of-turnovers, received 26 points from DeGrate and 25 points from Faith Mason-Vestal. DeGrate was 2-of-8 inside the arc and 6-of-8 beyond the arc. The Jets improve to 17-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play.

Lubbock Christian falls to 3-3 all-time in Wichita. The conference loss was LCU's first Heartland loss since Feb. 11, 2007 in Fort Smith, Ark. They are now 21-5 on the season and 11-1 in conference, as the loss also ends a seven-game road win streak and places them with a 7-4 road record for the season (the game was LCU's final regular season road game of the season).
 
SUMMARIZING THE TITLE TALK
Last Saturday, LCU claimed 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 has finished 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.
 
The regular season title gives LCU the No.1-seed at the conference tournament, which runs Mar. 7-10 in Tulsa, Okla. They will open their Tulsa stay facing No.8-seed Texas A&M International Thursday, Mar. 7 at 5 p.m. inside Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC). Tickets for the Heartland Conference Tournament are currently on sale (www.heartlandsports.org/bbchampionship).
 
HOMELAND SECURITY
LCU completed their home schedule going 16-0 last season and are 12-0 at home this season. LCU's last home game, an 88-19 win over Texas A&M International (Feb. 9), extended their active home win streak to 62 games, which ranks tied for fifth all-time in NCAA Division II women's basketball (it actively leads NCAA Div. II). If LCU extends the streak to 63, they would become only the fifth program ever to achieve a 63-game home win streak in NCAA Division II history. The record is 87 consecutive home victories by Nebraska-Kearney, who completed the task from Jan. 31, 1995 - Nov. 24, 2001. LCU's last home loss came on Jan. 1, 2015 against Oklahoma City University. LCU has also won 53 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring Jan. 10, 2013 (against Oklahoma City). They are 47-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Lubbock Christian is holding opponents to 48.3 points per game in conference and 53.2 per game overall this season, which ranks seventh nationally. The defensive efforts have led to LCU averaging a margin of victory of 18.4 points per game, which ranks 12^th nationally. The Lady Chaps have a 25.9 scoring margin advantage per game in conference play.

NO FOUL PLAY
The Lady Chaps rank 11th in the nation in fouls per game, with a conference-leading average of 14.2 fouls per game (13.6 in conference). Fouls have led LCU to outscoring their opponents 12.4 – 9.7 in points a game from the free-throw line. The Lady Chaps have shot over 80% from the free-throw line in nine games this season and they have a mark of 72.5% on the season (second in the Heartland Conference). Olivia Robertson leads the team (of qualified attempts), shooting 86.4% (89/103) 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 sixth nationally with a 48.1% 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 nine occasions, including six of their last 10 games. They are shooting 49.1% this season in home 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 78 assists (3.0 per game), with Caitlyn Cunyus (2.6), Olivia Robertson (58, 2.2) and Bobbi Chitsey (2.0) also playing a role in the ball distribution. LCU averages 15.8 assists (leads the Heartland Conference) on 25.7 field goals per game. LCU has 412 assists (leads the conference), ranking 21^st nationally in the category.

MAD HOUSE
Inside player Maddi Chitsey has had the hot-hand for LCU, posting at least 10 points in eight of the last nine games (averaging 14.3 points per game over the last nine games). In the three-game road swing, Maddi produced a 17.0-point and 6.7-rebounding average. She was 52.6% (20/38) from the field (3-of-6 from three-point range), with seven field goals in each win. Maddi opened the trip with 17 points off a 7-of-11 shooting performance at Arkansas-Fort Smith, missing a double-double by a rebound (nine rebounds), and followed with a 20-point outing at Rogers State, with 15 tallied in the second half. She closed the trip at Newman with 14 points.

HAVING HEART
The Lady Chaps 11-1 record in conference has been led by Olivia Robertson, who has an average of 12.6 points per conference game. Maddi Chitsey (12.3) joins Robertson in double figures in points. LCU has a 182-150 advantage in turnovers (forced) in conference contests, leading to a 202-135 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. They are also benefiting off an average advantage of 10.9 – 4.4 second-chance-points per conference game and their bench averaging 24.8 points per conference game. The Lady Chaps are shooting 50.5% from the field in conference and shooting 38.4% from three-point range, with an 98-47 advantage in three-pointers (LCU is 58.1% inside the arc in conference). Opponents are 33.5% from the field and 27.0% from three-point range. LCU's defense has a 110-61 advantage in steals in conference games, with Allie Schulte leading the team with 20 (1.7 per game).

BOARD GAMES
The Lady Chaps rank seventh in the Heartland Conference in rebounds per game (34.1, which ranks 268^th of 301 Division II programs), but they lead the Heartland Conference in rebounding margin with a mark of 6.5 (34^th nationally). Olivia Robertson leads LCU with 164 rebounds (6.3 per game). LCU has only been out-rebounded twice over the prior 23 games and they have 110 more rebounds through 12 conference games (+9.2 per conference game).

DOWNTOWN
The Lady Chaps rank 37^th nationally with 197 three-pointers on the season and is sixth with a shooting mark of 38.6% from long range. Allie Schulte leads the team, hitting three-pointers at a pace of 51.2% on the season (44/86), with 44 three-pointers ranking fifth in the conference. Bobbi Chitsey is 17-of-39 (.436) from three-point range in conference play and joins Schulte (17-of-34, .500) to co-lead the team with 17 three-pointers in conference (1.5 per conference game).
 
HOME COURT
LCU is 12-0 inside Rip Griffin Center this season. The Lady Chaps have been led in scoring at home by Allie Schulte (12.3 points per game), with Olivia Robertson (11.3) not far behind. Robertson also averages 6.5 rebounds at home this season. LCU has a 109-63 advantage in three-pointers this season at home, with Allie Schulte knocking down three-pointers at a rate of 55.6% (25/45) at home this season. Madelyn Turner (10-of-15, 66.7%) and Bobbi Chitsey (18-of-36, 50.0%) have also produced effectively from long range at home this season. LCU's defense has held their opponents to a 33.4% shooting mark from the field inside Rip Griffin Center this season.
 
REGIONAL REVIEW
The NCAA released their first South Central Regional Rankings of the season Wednesday and the Lady Chaps are atop the regional standings. The No.1 seed in the final rankings released Mar.10 will serve as host (unless refused) of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament, and only the top eight teams qualify for the tournament.
 
1          Lubbock Christian
2          Colorado Mesa
3          Westminster
4          West Texas A&M   
5          Angelo State    
6          Eastern New Mexico
7          Tarleton State 
8          St. Mary's       
9          Texas A&M International
10        Western Colorado
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OC
- The Lady Eagles enter the week 12-12 overall and 5-6 in Heartland Conference play. They fell 94-78 Saturday at St. Mary's, which was an incredible turnaround of fates, as they had defeated StMU 104-53 earlier in the season. The loss places them 2-4 in their last six games.
- OC finished the 2017-18 season with a 10-18 record. They went 5-9 in conference and Their season ended with a semifinal loss to LCU at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla..
- Oklahoma Christian features leading-scorer Addy Clift, who has over 2,000 career points for the Lady Eagles. Clift leads the nation with 27.4 points per game. She has 197 points this season from the free-throw line, ranking second nationally. She averages 17.1 points a game in eight career games against LCU.
- The Lady Eagles rank 21^st nationally with an average of 30 defensive rebounds per game.
- OC's offense enters the week averaging 80.8 points per game, which ranks ninth nationally. They rank third nationally in free-throws made, averaging 18.5 per game. They average 19.3 points from the line in conference contests this season.

SERIES HISTORY WITH OC
OC leads the all-time series 29-27 dating back to 1979. Despite trailing the all-time series, LCU has won 23 of the last 26 meetings. The Lady Chaps have won the prior 16 meetings, with OC's last win coming on Feb. 17, 2011. LCU swept the regular season series last season, then followed with an 80-61 victory over OC at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. The series opened this season with LCU defeating OC 84-70 on Jan. 26 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Both teams are former Sooner Athletic Conference foes.

PREVIOUS MEETING VS. OC
Jan. 26, 2019 (Oklahoma City, Okla.): LCU 84 - OC 70
Olivia Robertson took the spotlight off Oklahoma Christian's Addy Clift, the NCAA Division II leading-scorer, and led four Lady Chaparrals in double-figures with 21 points, as Lubbock Christian University, thriving off 50 rebounds (sisters Bobbi, 15, and Maddi, 12, Chitsey combined for 27), produced an 84-70 victory inside The Eagles' Nest.

Robertson had the task of defending Clift, the reigning USBWA National Player of the Week, as LCU went with a man-defensive look. While leading all scorers with 21 points and contributing five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals, Robertson held Clift to 16 points, her second-lowest game total this season. Clift was held without a three-pointer (held to two attempts) for a second consecutive game (she had made at least one three-pointer in 56 consecutive games prior to Thursday's game at Newman).

Clift did not connect on her first five field goal attempts and Robertson helped keep her scoreless for the game's first 12:17. She was 6-of-20 from the field and did not connect on her third field goal until 2:43 remained in the third quarter.

As a team, LCU's defense made its presence to contain more than just Clift, as OC's offense entered the game ranking seventh nationally in scoring (82.1 points per game). LCU produced 50 rebounds, which was their highest single-game total since collecting 50 on Nov. 21, 2016 against Wayland Baptist and a high-mark for a squad that entered the game ranking 281st (of 301 NCAA Division II programs) in rebounds per game (33.2). For an LCU-first, a pair of sisters each finished in double figures in rebounds and each were career-high totals. Maddi Chitsey posted 12 rebounds (five offensive) and added 11 points to complete her second career double-double. Bobbi Chitsey produced 15 rebounds, which is the highest single-game total since Tess Bruffey produced 15 on Feb. 23, 2017. LCU also manufactured a season-high 10 blocks (three each by Bobbi Chitsey and Juliana Robertson), which is the most on the road since 12 against Emporia State on Dec. 3, 2016.

The defensive numbers were impressive, and that is with OC playing a solid performance. OC led 19-16 after the end of the first quarter and shot 58.8% (10-of-17) from the field in the second quarter and led 41-37 at the half. Katie Mayo was 6-of-10 in the opening half and led OC with 12 points. She finished with a team-high 17 points and was one of four Lady Eagles in double figures. Megan Shelton and Maddison Collyer each had eight points in the first half, but were held to two each in the second half and both players finished with 10 points.

The tide turned in the second half as LCU held OC to 31.3% from the field and 2-of-10 (20%) from long range. The Lady Eagles, who produced 16 field goals in the first half, were held to 10 field goals in the second half of play. Meanwhile, LCU was 18-of-37 (48.6%) from the field in the second half. They outscored the Lady Eagles 22-15 in the third quarter. The third quarter featured seven lead changes, with Olivia Robertson's layup on an and-one play with 2:19 left in the quarter giving LCU the lead for good (the layup put LCU up 54-53). The Lady Chaps surged in the fourth quarter, outscoring OC 25-14 off 52.9% shooting (9-of-17) from the field.

LCU went 34-of-70 (46.6%) from the field, going 24-of-37 (64.9%) inside the arc. LCU's 73 field goal attempts was their highest mark since 78 attempts on Nov. 12, 2013 against Eastern New Mexico. They also had 36 three-point attempts and made 34 overall field goals (each number was their highest since 39 field goals and 37 three-point attempts on Mar. 11, 2016 against Angelo State). Allie Schulte (15 points) and Caitlyn Cunyus (12 points) joined Olivia Robertson and Maddi Chitsey in double figures in points. LCU had a 16-4 scoring advantage in second-chance-scoring off their 14 offensive rebounds (LCU had a 50-25 advantage in rebounds).

LCU was able to improve to 16-4 overall and 6-0 in conference despite their worst free-throw shooting performance of the season. The Lady Chaps, outscored 14-6 from the line by an OC squad that ranks third nationally in points from the line, shot a season-low 46.2% (6-of-13) from the line.