ST. MARY'S (8-7, 7-4) at No.9 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (14-2, 8-2) January 23, 2020 • 5:30 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast WATCH ONLINE: LSC Digital Network (Online or via OTT apps including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku devices by searching "LSC Digital Network.") Talent: Chris Due (Play-By-Play), Nicole Gerlich (Analyst) LISTEN: 100.7 The Score Talent: Chris Due (Play-By-Play), Nicole Gerlich (Analyst) LCU Social Media:
	ST. MARY'S RATTLERS (8-7, 7-4) Location: San Antonio, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Jason Martens (Bethel, 2000) Roster | Stats | Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (14-2, 8-2) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

THE SAINTS ARE MARCHING IN
No.9 Lubbock Christian University returns home seeking to end a two-game losing skid this week, hosting St. Mary's (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.) and St. Edward's (Saturday at 1 p.m.) in Lone Star Conference non-division play. The Lady Chaps have not faced consecutive losses since December of 2018 and they have not faced consecutive conference losses since the final two games of the 2014-15 season. If the losing streak slips to three-straight, it would be their first three-game losing streak since December of 2016. LCU (14-2) has other plans, as they aim to end St. Mary's (8-7) five-game win streak, which has the Rattlers entering play leading their division. The games this week mark LCU's first LSC games against opponents that were Heartland Conference members last season.
 
WHAT JUST HAPPENED
The NCAA Division II defending national champions had a week to forget last week, suffering their first losses of the season. They had their 25-game win streak snapped with a 69-68 overtime loss at Eastern New Mexico and then followed with a 64-56 loss at No.25 West Texas A&M. LCU let a three-point lead slip away in the final minute of overtime in Portales, N.M. and then they lost an eight-point lead in the second quarter Saturday at WT. If there was a trend on the week it was rebounding and point differential in second-chance scoring and points-off-turnovers. They were out-rebounded 90-71 on the week (44-30 at WT), with the opponents combining for 32 offensive rebounds. The offensive boards helped lead to 19 more shot attempts by their opponents and LCU was outscored 22-4 in second-chance-scoring (outscored 13-2 in second chance scoring Thursday at ENMU). Turnovers also helped contribute to LCU being heavily out-shot on the week, and opponents had a 31-10 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers (outscored 15-0 in points-off-turnovers Thursday at ENMU).
 
LONE STAR DEBUT
The Lady Chaps are playing in their first season in the Lone Star Conference and are 8-2 so far this season in conference play. A trio of Lady Chaps are averaging double figures in LSC play, led by Maddi Chitsey, who is averaging 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per conference game. Allie Schulte (12.0) and Ashton Duncan (11.1) are each averaging in double figures in conference contests. LCU has the advantage in three-point field goals (75-59), steals (73-65) and blocks (57-27) in LSC games. The Lady Chaps have a scoring margin per-game of 14.4 and are holding opponents to a 33.1% in those contests.
 
THE MIDDLETON AGES
Lady Chaps junior Emma Middleton has started to break out over the prior six games, as she is averaging 11.2 points per game over the six-game span (averaged 3.1 per game in her career prior to the prior six games). Middleton had three career three-pointers prior to Jan. 11, but since then is 5-of-6 from three-point range and is now 7-of-11 from long range this season. Last Thursday, Middleton posted a career high in points (16) and rebounds (9).  
 
LONG DISTANCE NEWS
Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 40 three-pointers this season. Duncan leads the LSC shooting 40.8% from long range (ranks 48th nationally) and ranks second with 2.5 three-pointers per game. She has made at least three three-pointers in nine games this season.
 
TOO MUCH MATH INVOLVED
Despite not having any individual players in the top-five in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio, LCU still leads the LSC with a team assist/turnover ratio of 1.12, which ranks 29^th nationally. LCU's individual leader is Caitlyn Cunyus, who ranks sixth in the LSC with a 1.33 ratio (ranks 133^rd nationally).
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 15-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. With LCU's 69-52 win over ASU on Jan. 11, LCU was able to extend their active home win streak to 72 games, which ranks third all-time in NCAA Division II women's basketball (it actively leads all of NCAA). 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, who also has a 7-0 mark in NCAA postseason play in Lubbock in the mix, has also won 60 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
72 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
72 – LCU (Division II)
49 – Baylor (Division I)
47 – Drury (Division II)
30 – Iowa (Division I)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
LCU is 7-0 at home this season. Maddi Chitsey leads LCU averaging 15.0 points at home and joins Allie Schulte (11.6) and Ashton Duncan (10.9) as players averaging double figures in points at home. LCU is shooting 47.3% at home this season and they are holding opponents to a 30.7% shooting mark. They are 85.0% (85/100) from the free-throw line at home and have a 41-10 advantage in blocked shots.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Based on the preseason rankings for the 2019-20 season (D2SIDA, WBCA along with Lone Star Conference), the Lady Chaparrals carry the highest expectations in program history to start a season. D2SIDA placed the defending national champions No.1 and the WBCA ranked LCU No.2 despite the Lady Chaps receiving 14 of the 23 first place votes. Each ranking is their highest preseason ranking in program history. The LSC preseason ranked LCU No.1 in their preseason rankings. LCU held their debut rankings for seven-in-season rankings, until dropping to No.9 (WBCA) and No.21 (D2SIDA) this week.
 
BLOCK PARTIES ARE BACK
LCU ranks seventh nationally in blocks (90) and eighth in blocks per game (5.6). Maddi Chitsey leads the team with 40 blocks (third in the conference and 15th nationally), at a pace of 2.5 per game (second in the conference and 14th nationally). LCU has ranked in the top-10 nationally in blocks each season since the 2015-16 season, which was their first season eligible to have statistics included among NCAA leaders. They ranked 10th in total blocks last season (155), second in 2017-18 (202, ranking fourth with a pace of 6.1 per game), fourth in 2016-17 (170, leading the nation with 5.7 per game) and led NCAA Division II in 2015-16 with 235 blocks (6.7 per game).
 
CHARITY WORK
LCU is 85-of-100 (85.0%) from the free-throw line at home this season, with Madelyn Turner (10-of-10), Laynee Burr (11-of-12), Maddi Chitsey (20-of-22) and Caitlyn Cunyus (9-of-10) combining for a 92.6% shooting mark at home. The Lady Chaps lead the LSC in free-throw percentage (ranking 17^th nationally) at 77.4%. In each season LCU has been eligible to have team statistics included among NCAA Division II leaders (2015-15), the Lady Chaps have finished in the top-three in their conference in free-throw shooting. They led the Heartland Conference in 2017-18 with a 76.2% mark from the line, ranking 33rd nationally. Their highest national ranking is 32nd (75.0%) from the 2015-16 season. Maddi Chitsey leads LCU and is eighth in the LSC with a 75.8% shooting mark from the line (Caitlyn Cunyus, 33/36 - 91.7% and Madelyn Turner, 24/27 - 88.9% do not qualify with enough attempts).
 
BE DEFENSIVE
The Lady Chaps lead the LSC and rank fourth nationally, holding opponents to a 32.4% shooting mark on the season. Of their 16 contests, LCU has held the opponent to under a 30% shooting mark six times and the highest shooting percentage they have allowed in a game was 40.0% by Cameron (Dec. 19), which has been the only time an opponent shot over 38% in a game this season against LCU.
 
D-NOTES
The Lady Chaps rank second the LSC in defensive rebounds a game with a mark of 28.0 per contest, which ranks 63^rd nationally. Their team leader in defensive rebounds per game is Caitlyn Cunyus, who ranks eighth in the LSC with 4.9 per contest.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT StMU
1 > The Rattlers went 18-10 last season and finished with a 7-7 record in Heartland Conference play (finished tied for third in the conference).
2 > StMU is preseason picked seventh in the LSC Preseason Poll. They are 8-7 overall this season with a 7-4 conference record (they lead their division with a 3-0 mark and are the only team in their division without a division loss). They are tied for fourth (with St. Edward's) when listed among conference record.
3 > The Rattlers have a better road record (4-1) than home record (3-5) this season. They are one of seven LSC teams that have a winning record on the road.
4 > LCU's perimeter defense will be tested, as StMU leads the LSC and ranks 23^rd nationally in three-point shooting percentage at 36.2% this season. They average 8.5 three-pointers per game.
5 > Hannah Wilson leads the LSC with 9.1 rebounds per game, with 3.7 per game registered on the offensive end (second in the LSC in offensive boards per game).
 
THE SERIES AGAINST StMU
LCU leads the all-times series 15-3 over StMU. The Lady Chaps are 12-2 against the Rattlers since the 2013-14 season and are 6-0 inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU swept the season series last season and has won six straight meetings following their prior meeting (73-55 win in Lubbock on Feb. 2, 2019).
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. StMU
Here is a look at LCU's top three active leaders career vs. StMU:
 
Maddi Chitsey 5GP 10.4 pts/g, 5.5 reb
Ashton Duncan 4GP 7.8 pts/g, 8/14 3pt-FG
Caitlyn Cunyus 6GP 6.7 pts/g, 9/18 3pt-FG
 
 
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. StMU
Feb. 2, 2019 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU:73 - StMU:55
Lubbock Christian University was a season-high 59.6% from the field and held St. Mary's to a 32.8% shooting mark, as the Lady Chaparrals remained unbeaten (8-0) in Heartland Conference play with a 73-55 win Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center.

The Lady Chaps shot at least 50% from the field in each of the four quarters, and they opened the game shooting 66.7% (8/12) in the first quarter of play. St. Mary's opened the game making their first two shot attempts and had a 4-1 lead, but it quickly vanished as they missed 14 of their next 15 shot attempts, including the final 12 shot attempts of the quarter. LCU went on an 18-2 run in the quarter, aided by eight points from Maddi Chitsey to help LCU take a 19-6 lead into the second quarter.

LCU displayed their balance in the second quarter, as five different Lady Chaps produced at least one field goal. At the half, with LCU leading 35-18, the Lady Chaps had field goals from nine different players, while StMU had a total of eight field goals overall. The LCU defense held StMU to a 22.9% (8/35) shooting percentage in the first half.

The Rattlers made things interesting in the third quarter, as they went on an 11-4 run to cut LCU's lead down to 13 (49-36) with a minutes left in the third quarter. In the final minute of the quarter, LCU's Allie Schulte and Kailin Davis each hit a three-pointer to help LCU close the quarter on a 6-0 run for a 55-36 lead.

StMU was unable to catch up to the Lady Chaps in the fourth quarter, as LCU shot 70% (7/10) from the field in the quarter. LCU built the lead as much as 66-42 in the quarter before settling for the 73-55 final.

The Lady Chaps had four players in double figures, with Maddi Chitsey leading LCU with 13 points. Bobbi Chitsey and Allie Schulte each had 11 points and Olivia Robertson finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Schulte was 4-of-4 from the field and hit all three of her three-point field goal attempts. Along with their 59.6% shooting from the field, LCU was 50% (10/20) from three-point range.

St. Mary's was led by Arysia Porter, who posted a game-high 14 points. The Rattlers, who were 21-of-64 from the field (17 more shot attempts than LCU), also received 12 points from Kaitlin Walla and 11 points from Soteria Banks. The loss ended StMU's three-game win streak and places them with a 14-6 overall record and 4-4 in conference.

Five Lady Chaps produced at least three assists, led by Madelyn Turner, who posted a career-high six assists. The Lady Chaps assisted on a season-high 24 of their 28 field goals in the game.