NCAA DIV.II SOUTH CENTRAL REGION TOURNAMENT – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No.4-Seed ANGELO STATE (26-5, 17-3 Lone Star)
vs. No.3-Seed / No.24/25 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (28-5, 13-1 Heartland)
Tuesday, March 19 – 8:00 PM
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: Double-T 97.3 FM
All-Time Series: LCU leads 9-3

THE UNLIKELY HAS HAPPENED
No.24/25 LCU was their own upper-level disturbance towards creating a perfect storm that allowed them to host the championship game of the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Central Region. It was a unique situation from the start, as West Texas A&M served as the No.1-seed in both the men's and women's region bracket. Under the circumstances, the top-two seeds in the men's and women's bracket served as host to the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the highest remaining seed hosting the championship game. With No.4-seed Angelo State knocking off No.1-seed WT in Canyon, Texas and LCU defeating No.2-seed Colorado Mesa Saturday in Grand Junction, Colo., it left LCU as the top remaining seed and they now host the South Central Region Championship Game for a third season and for a second straight season. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat Angelo State, they will improve to 29-5 on the season and will they will improve their South Central Region Tournament all-time record to 9-0 and NCAA Division II postseason all-time record to 12-1. More importantly, they would clinch their third all-time berth to the Elite Eight Tournament. This season's Elite Eight Tournament is in Columbus, Ohio scheduled to begin Tuesday, Mar. 26^th.
 
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Belles, they will be eliminated from the tournament and their season will end with a record of 28-6. They would also have their consecutive streak of home victories end at 64 games.

SATURDAY SUMMARY
No.15/20 Colorado Mesa was scoreless over the final 3:09 and was unable to tie the game with four possessions in the final four seconds of the game, as No.24/25 Lubbock Christian University ended the game on a 7-0 run and the No.3-seed Lady Chaps escaped with a 56-53 win over No.2-seed Mavericks, ending the Mavericks 20-game home win streak inside a rowdy Brownson Arena. The win advances LCU into the Sweet Sixteen and they return home to host No.4-seed Angelo State in the NCAA Division II South Central Region championship game at 8 p.m. Tuesday inside Rip Griffin Center.

With 3:09 left, D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year Jaylyn Duran connected on a three-pointer to put CMU up 53-49. Over the final 3:09, Colorado Mesa was 0-of-5 from the field and they produced three turnovers. Meanwhile, LCU made four of their final five field goal attempts and closed the game on a 7-0 run. Caitlyn Cunyus started the run with a layup. Following a pair of missed field goal attempts and a turnover by the Mavericks, LCU took the lead with a pair of inside baskets by Bobbi Chitsey to put LCU up 55-53, as 1:03 remained. Kelsey Siemons, whose only field goal of the game was a three-pointer earlier in the quarter, attempted a three-pointer with 48 seconds left, but it was blocked by Maddi Chitsey. LCU was unable to add to the 55-53 lead, as LCU missed their shot attempt and CMU came away with the rebound with 16 seconds remaining. The Mavericks went to Duran again for a three-point attempt, but Juliana Robertson was there for the block. Olivia Robertson went to the free-throw line with four seconds left and made one of two free-throws to put LCU up 56-53. Following the timeout and advancement to the front court, Siemons attempted to put a pass into the right corner for an awaiting Duran, but Juliana Robertson jumped the passing lane and got the steal. She was fouled with four-tenths of a second left (0.4). Juliana missed both free throws and had a lane violation on the second attempt, leading to the Mavericks calling a timeout and advancing the inbounds with 0.4 left. They inbounded for a shot by Siemens, just inside half court, and the shot hit the back iron and the buzzer finally sounded, leading to a celebration of blue among a near capacity crowd of 1,659 fans.

It was a tightly played game throughout. The two teams combined for 11 lead changes and the score was tied on an additional 10 instances. Neither team had more than a six-point lead and LCU was able to overcome a six-point deficit. Colorado Mesa had the lead for 20:01 of the game.

LCU did lead following three of the quarters, leading 12-10 after the opening frame and leading 38-37 after the third quarter. They struggled in the second quarter. The Lady Chaps, who were held to five field goals in the entire first half, were 2-of-10 from the field in the quarter. They had a 20-15 lead in the second quarter, but then did not connect on a field goal for the next 8:39, which led to them trailing at the half 26-23.

Allie Schulte ended the drought with a steal and a layup, which jump-started a 9-0 LCU run to take a 32-28 lead. It was quickly erased, as CMU responded with a 7-0 run. Eight of the 11 lead changes took place in the second half.

The statistics were not indicative to the outcome, as LCU struggled in many offensive areas. Fortunately for the Lady Chaps, they had 23 points from the free-throw line (second-most on the season) on a season-high 32 attempts. Entering the game ranked 11th in fewest fouls per game, LCU was whistled above their 14.1 fouls per game average, being whistled 15 times, but still had a 23-11 scoring advantage from the line.

Here is a look at where LCU struggled:

• LCU was 16-of-40 from the field (40%) and it was just their fourth game of the season shooting under 42%.
• The Lady Chaps were 1-of-8 from three-point range. The one three-pointer is the lowest in a game since recording one against St. Edward's at the Heartland Conference Tournament on Mar. 5, 2017. LCU was 11-of-18 the prior night from three-point range.
• LCU was out-rebounded 31-29, which is only the third time LCU has been out-rebounded in the past 30 games.
• The Lady Chaps could not capitalize on turnovers, as they were outscored 16-12 in points-off-turnovers despite a 15-10 turnover advantage.

LCU overcame the low-marks and adversity behind the play of Olivia Robertson, who led all scorers with 20 points. Robertson co-led the team (with Caitlyn Cunyus) with five boards and was 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. Maddi Chitsey also finished in double-figures with 15 points.

CMU had their season end at 27-4. Kylyn Rigsby led the mavericks with 12 points and Daniella Turner and Duran each posted 10 points. Duran's total was a season-low.

The meeting was the second all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since Nov. 21, 2003. LCU improved to 2-0 all-time against CMU and 8-0 all-time in the South Central Region Tournament.
 
SUMMARIZING THE TITLE TALK
On Feb. 16, 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 marked 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. As for the Heartland Conference Tournament title, last week's conference tournament title was LCU's third Heartland Conference Tournament championship and their fourth conference tournament championship in program history.
 
ALL-REGION ACCOLADES
Lubbock Christian University women's basketball's Maddi Chitsey and Olivia Robertson each received D2CCA All-South Central Region Team honors for the 2018-19 season.

Chitsey, a junior from Wall, Texas is coming off All-Tournament Team and MVP honors at the Heartland Conference Tournament after setting the program tournament scoring record averaging 20.3 points per contest on 59% (23/39) shooting. She has posted at least 10 points in 15 of the last 16 games (topping 20 in four of the games), which has her averaging 12.7 points per game on the season. She is tied for seventh in the region in blocks (45), eighth in blocks per game (1.4) and tied for 13th in field goals (158) with Robertson. Chitsey was a Heartland Conference preseason and regular season All-Heartland Conference selection this season.

Robertson leads the Lady Chaps in scoring and rebounding this season with an average of 14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The Kerrville, Texas native was an All-Tournament Team selection last week at the Heartland Conference Tournament with an average of 10.3 points and 8.0 rebounds, as she claimed her team-leading fifth double-double in the championship game of the tournament. She has a conference-leading 87.9% free-throw shooting percentage (second in the region and 15th nationally) on the season (116/132), which has her on pace with an 87.7% (271/309) career free-throw shooting percentage to finish second all-time in LCU program history. She is one of five players in the region with at least 425 points and 200 rebounds on the season and leads the region in minutes played (1016 minutes).

Named to the Second Team, Chitsey and Robertson mark the second season since joining NCAA Division II in which multiple Lady Chaps have been recognized. 
 
LCU ALL-CONFERENCE CONVERSATION
The All-Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Team honors were announced prior to the opening day of play at the Heartland Conference Tournament at the Pre-Tournament Awards Social. Here is a glance at LCU's award winners:

Steve Gomez – Coach of the Year
Olivia Robertson – First Team
Maddi Chitsey – First Team
Bobbi Chitsey – Honorable Mention
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT (CONFERENCE)
Maddi Chitsey tallied an LCU program single-game high for Heartland Conference Tournament performances with 24 points against Newman Sunday, leading to Conference Tournament MVP honors, as the conference announced the All-Tournament Team honors following LCU's win over Newman in the title game in Tulsa, Okla. Along with Chitsey, LCU's Olivia Robertson (10.3 points, 8.0 rebounds) and Allie Schulte (11.3 points, 3.3 assists) also received All-Tournament Team accreditation.
 
REGIONAL REVIEW
The Lady Chaparrals are making their third all-time appearance in the South Central Region Tournament, but this season marks their first appearance in which they played games away from Rip Griffin Center in the tournament. LCU, now 11-0 all-time in South Central Region Tournament games, hosted the 2016 and 2018 tournaments inside Rip Griffin Center. Last season, Tess Bruffey claimed Most Outstanding Tournament honors at the South Central Region tournament averaging 16.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 4.7 blocks per game. The two-time recipient of the honor had a triple-double in the title game against West Texas A&M. Maddi Chitsey also claimed All-Tour­nament honors after scoring 15.7 points per game. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds and was 5-of-11 (.455) from long range. All-time, former Lady Chap Haley Fowler leads the team in the tournament (scoring average), averaging 17.0 points a game. Olivia Robertson leads LCU this season with an average of 21.5 points in the tournament and averages 9.3 points per game in seven career South Central Region Tournament contests (averages 10.1 points per NCAA postseason game).
 
HOME IS WHERE THE STREAK IS
LCU is 14-0 this season inside Rip Griffin Center. With their last home game, which resulted in a 72-44 win over St. Edward's on Mar. 2, LCU extended their active home win streak to 64 games, which ranks tied for third all-time in NCAA Division II women's basketball (it actively leads NCAA Div. II). 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 55 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring Jan. 10, 2013 (against Oklahoma City). They completed a 49-0 all-time mark in Heartland Conference home games.

NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
87 - Neb.-Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
85 - West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991
64 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
64 - Glenville St. Jan. 16, 1999-Dec. 1, 2004
64 - Delta St. Jan. 27, 2007-Nov. 12, 2011

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Lubbock Christian held opponents to 47.7 points per game in conference play and they are holding opponents to 52.0 per game overall this season, which ranks third nationally. The defensive efforts have led to LCU averaging a margin of victory of 20.6 points per game, which ranks seventh nationally. The Lady Chaps produced a 27.7 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 14.1 fouls per game. Fouls have led LCU to outscoring their opponents 12.6 – 9.7 in points a game from the free-throw line. On Mar. 7 at the conference tournament, LCU allowed two free-throw attempts to Texas A&M International, which was the lowest amount during the 16-year coaching tenure of Steve Gomez at LCU. The Lady Chaps have shot over 80% from the free-throw line in 12 games this season and they have a mark of 73.8% on the season (second in the Heartland Conference). Olivia Robertson leads the team (of qualified attempts), shooting 87.9% (116/132) from the line to lead the conference (15^th nationally). 

FROM THE FIELD
Lubbock Christian continues to rank in the top-10 nationally in shooting, ranking fourth nationally with a 48.5% field goal shooting percentage. LCU has shot at least 41.9% in all but four games this season and have hit the .500 plateau on 12 occasions, including nine of their last 17 games. They are shooting 49.2% 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. Both Chitsey sisters also claimed All-Conference honors this season.

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 101 assists (3.1 per game), with Caitlyn Cunyus (79, 2.8), Olivia Robertson (75, 2.3) and Bobbi Chitsey (66, 2.1) also playing a role in the ball distribution. LCU averages 16.4 assists (leads the Heartland Conference and ranks 19^th nationally) on 26.0 field goals per game. LCU has 540 assists (leads the conference), ranking 13^th nationally in the category.

MAD HOUSE
Inside player Maddi Chitsey has had the hot-hand for LCU, posting at least 10 points in 15 of the last 16 games (averaging 15.5 points per game over the last 16 games). In their last three-game road swing of the regular season, Maddi produced a 17.0-point and 6.7-rebounding average. She returned home for the regular season finale and posted 17 points. The shooting numbers continued in Tulsa, where she set LCU's Heartland Conference Tournament single-tournament scoring average mark with an average of 20.3 points. Chitsey is also averaging 6.1 rebounds per game over the prior 14 games and is a combined 10-of-23 (43.5%) over the past 10 games from three-point range.

HOME COURT
LCU is 14-0 inside Rip Griffin Center this season. The Lady Chaps have been led in scoring at home by Allie Schulte (11.5 points per game), with Olivia Robertson (11.2) not far behind. Robertson also averages 6.4 rebounds at home this season. LCU has a 134-70 advantage in three-pointers this season at home, with Allie Schulte knocking down three-pointers at a rate of 54.9% (28/51) at home this season. Madelyn Turner (12-of-21, 57.1%) and Bobbi Chitsey (19-of-42, 45.2%) have also produced effectively from long range at home this season. LCU's defense has held their opponents to a 32.2% shooting mark from the field inside Rip Griffin Center this season.

BOARD GAMES
The Lady Chaps rank seventh in the Heartland Conference in rebounds per game (34.6, which ranks 258^th of 301 Division II programs), but they lead the Heartland Conference in rebounding margin with a mark of 7.0 (27^th nationally). Olivia Robertson leads LCU with 210 rebounds (6.4 per game). LCU has only been out-rebounded three times over the prior 30 games.

DOWNTOWN
The Lady Chaps rank 14^th nationally with 263 three-pointers on the season and is third with a shooting mark of 39.5% from long range. Allie Schulte leads the team, hitting three-pointers at a pace of 51.4% on the season (55/107), with 55 three-pointers ranking fifth in the conference.
 
SENIOR SALUTE
Seniors Olivia Robertson and Bobbi Chitsey are playing in their final postseason as members of the Lady Chaps. Each member are the last remaining active members off LCU's 2015-16 NCAA Division II National Championship squad. Robertson topped 1,000 career points Friday and has 1,032 career points in 120 games, with 521 career rebounds. Chitsey has appeared in 118 career games and has 857 career points, with 401 boards. The pair of seniors, who are each All-Conference selections this season, have a four-year record of 113-17 (86.9%), which includes a closing out a 57-5 conference record, and they are 57-0 in home games.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ASU
- Angelo State qualified with an at-large bid. They are 26-5 on the season (17-3 finish in conference play) after their 73-70 overtime tournament victory Saturday at top-seeded West Texas A&M.
- The Belles went 23-7 last season, with a 16-4 mark in Lone Star Conference play.
- ASU is making their 12th overall appearance in the region tour­nament and they are seeking their first region title.
- Angelo State has three All-LSC members on the squad, led by Defensive Player of the Year Marquita Daniels. Center De'Anira Moore (Second Team) and Dezirae Hampton (Third Team) also claimed postseason honors.  
- ASU's scoring offense ranks ninth nationally with an average of 79.0 points per game. They have topped 100 points twice this season, with a high of 113 posted against Cameron on Mar. 2.

THE SERIES AGAINST ASU
LCU leads the series with a 9-3 all-time mark. LCU defeated ASU 61-59 in last season's South Central Region Tournament (Mar. 10, 2018) and 101-72 in the 2016 South Central Region Tournament (Mar. 11, 2016). The last regular season meeting was on Nov. 24, 2014 in San Angelo. LCU won the game 71-57. The two teams have met four times since 2012, but had not met since Nov. 30, 2001 prior to that. The last ASU win in the series was a 62-56 ASU victory on Dec. 29, 2000.
 
PREVIOUS MEETING VS. ASU
March 10, 2018 (Lubbock, Texas): LCU 61 - ASU 59
No.2 and top-seeded Lubbock Christian University overcame a four-point deficit in the final 35 seconds of play with five straight points by Caitlyn Cunyus and her only points of the game were exactly what LCU needed for a 61-59 win over Angelo State University and an advancement to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Championship Game inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
It appeared as if LCU's postseason venture was going to come to an end in the semifinals once a questionable foul on Delaney Gaddis was called placing Keanna Kelly to the free-throw line for a trio of attempts with 39 seconds remaining and ASU up 58-55. Kelly ended up missing two of the three attempts and extended the Belles lead to 59-55 with 39 seconds remaining. Cunyus, who had been 0-of-3 from the field, received a screen in the left corner from Tess Bruffey and flung a rainbow to cut the deficit to 59-58 with 34 seconds left. Five seconds later, Bruffey committed a foul placing Kelly back to the line, but she missed both attempts. With the gameclock closing inside 20 seconds, Maddi Chitsey attempted an unsuccessful shot, but out of nowhere came Gaddis with an offensive rebound (her only offensive board of the game). Gaddis fed Cunyus, who drove in and put a shot in off the glass to put LCU up 61-59 with 13 seconds remaining. Marquita Daniels put up a three-pointer with seven seconds left and it came up short creating a pile-up in the paint. Out of the scrum came Ekiya Gray with a put-back attempt, but it was denied by a block from Bruffey with two seconds left.  The deflection ended up in the hands of Gaddis, who was fouled with just over a second remaining. Gaddis made the first free throw and purposely missed the second. Gray gathered the rebound, but the final horn sounded and LCU celebrated the comeback win.
 
Cunyus' go-ahead bucket was the 14^th lead change of the game. The score was tied up 11 occasions (game was tied for nine minutes) and neither team led by more than six points.
 
The largest lead of the game came with 1:01 left in the third quarter, with LCU leading 49-43. Kynese Davis' layup for ASU cut LCU's lead to 49-45 at the end of the quarter, and it started an 8-0 Belles run to take a 51-49 lead. Ekiya Gray made a three-pointer 1:40 into the fourth quarter for a 50-49 lead during the run and it was the last time LCU led until Cunyus' scoring surge late. The Belles largest lead came off a Dezirae Hampton three-pointer with 2:40 to go, placing ASU up 58-53.
 
Nine of the game's lead changes took place in the first quarter. ASU, behind six points each from Daniels and De'Anira Moore, led LCU 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. Daniels connected on a three-pointer in the second quarter to put ASU up 26-21, but LCU responded with a 5-0 run started by Bruffey on an old fashioned three-point play. Hampton closed the half with a three-pointer prior to the horn to tie the gme at 35-35 at the half. Daniels led ASU and all scorers with 17 points in the first half.
 
Bruffey was unable to get in sync, shooting 6-of-17 from the field and 0-of-7 from long range, but she still produced a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She also had five assists and five blocks. Bruffey eclipsed 1,700 career points and has 1,702 in her career, which ranks sixth all-time in program history. Her five blocks moved her into seventh all-time in NCAA Division II history with 394 career block (passed Aukse Steponaviciute, who had 392 with Abilene Christian from 1994-97). LCU was led by 17 points from Maddi Chitsey.
 
LCU was 42.3% (22/52) from the field, with a mark of 16.7% (3/18) from three-point range. The Lady Chaps opened the game missing their first six attempts from three-point range. LCU was 55.9% (19/34) inside the arc and went 6-of-7 inside the arc in the second quarter.
 
ASU was 12-of-21 from the free-throw line (57.1%). Moore, who finished with 16 points, was 6-of-7 from the stripe and Gray was 2-of-2, but the rest of the team went a combined 4-of-12 (33%). Daniels led ASU with 17 points, but was 0-of-4 from the field during the second half.