ST. MARY'S (0-0, 0-0) at No.3 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0, 0-0) December 11, 2020 • 5:30 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) TICKETS: Click Here (Online Advanced Purchase Only for Non-Chap Pass Season Pass Holders) 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), LISTEN: No Radio LCU Social Media:
	ST. MARY'S RATTLERS (0-0, 0-0) Location: San Antonio, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Jason Martens (Bethel, 2000) Roster | Stats | Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (0-0, 0-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES!
On March 8, the Lubbock Christian University women's basketball team was on cloud nine. They had just completed their first season in the Lone Star Conference and they were the LSC Champions leaving Frisco, Texas (LSC Championship host site) with trophy-in-hand and privileges to host the NCAA Division II South Central Regional. On March 12, one day before hosting Angelo State to open the regional, the news broke just as LCU had their allotted practice session. The NCAA had made the decision to cancel the remainder of the season and the championships. The title LCU was seeking to defend was no longer available to be obtained. Since that day, the Lady Chaps and all student-athletes have entered a new way of life. Virtual classrooms, local government shutdowns, NCAA sanctions, testing procedures, quarantines and playing in modified arenas with spectator guidelines has become the norm. All during a time in which election and equality chaos has been tossed into the mix, which took a student-athletes' March 12^th focus and has turned it in to an afterthought.
 
Friday, December 11, the Lady Chaps can have a little return to normalcy. The stresses they once had can have a welcomed return, as they "take-two" in defending their 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship title and tip off the 2020-21 season inside Rip Griffin Center hosting St. Mary's for their season and conference opener. The same two teams will tip-off again Saturday to conclude the opening weekend of play. Opponents, dates, scenarios, player/coach availability may change (to no surprise), but LCU is focused on riding out the scenarios of a 2020-21 season and hoping a reward and pot of gold sits at the end of this pandemic-rainbow.

DOING WHAT THEY CAN
Last season (2019-20), LCU played an exhibition season consisting of Texas, Baylor and Mississippi State. This season's preseason for LCU has been much different. They had one exhibition game scheduled in November against Our Lady of the Lake, but it was canceled due to COVID. Despite no exhibition games, LCU has played a trio of scrimmages. The Lady Chaps had successful scrimmages at Western Colorado (Gunnison, Okla.), Central Oklahoma (Edmond, Okla.) and at home against Angelo State. This season marks the first season since 2012-13 in which the Lady Chaps did not play an exhibition game.

GLANCING BACK AT LAST SEASON
The 2019-20 season marked LCU's first season in the Lone Star Conference and despite a change of scenery, LCU's success followed. The Lady Chaps went 28-3 on the season and claimed the Lone Star Conference Championship. Their season started with 14 consecutive wins, with their first lost occurring in overtime on Jan. 16 at Eastern New Mexico. They hit a tough patch, losing three games over a five-game stretch, but bounced back to close the season winning 12 consecutive games. LCU opened the season No.1 in both the WBCA and D2SIDA preseason polls, and the final released polls had them at No.4 (WBCA) and No.6 (D2SIDA). They were the No.1 team in the region at the time of the season cancellation.

WHO RETURNS
LCU returns three starters from last season's championship game of the LSC Championships, and two (Ashton Duncan, Allie Schulte) are All-Lone Star Conference honorees. Appearing in all 31 games,
 
Duncan averaged 9.6 points per game, claiming her first All-Conference honor. The guard led the LSC in three-point shooting percentage (43.4%, 19th nationally). She had a string of three-pointers made in 28 consecutive games played and finished third in the LSC with an average of 2.55 per game. The senior guard connected on 79 made three-pointers, which was third in the conference. At the LSC Tournament, she averaged 10.7 points a game and was 10-of-15 (67%) from three-point range.
 
Schulte claimed her first All-Conference honor last season, ranking second on the squad in scoring (12.3 points) and assists (94, 3.0 per game). She led the team in steals with 73, ranking second in the conference and 34th nationally. The senior guard also ranked ninth in the conference in field goals made (148). She was the first player in the LSC during the season to receive Player of the Week honors on both the offensive and defensive side. Schulte did not qualify with enough attempts, but shot .466 from long range (41/88), and claimed CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.
 
The Lady Chaps return five additional players that averaged more than 13 minutes per game last season: Emma Middleton (19.2), Madelyn Turner (17.2), Juliana Robertson (16.2), Laynee Burr (15.4) and Channing Cunyus (13.0). Middleton, who averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, ranked 14^th in the LSC in blocks with 28.

WHO THEY LOST
The Lady Chaps lost two starters last season, with Maddi Chitsey and Caitlyn Cunyus having to shed the tears of being unable to complete their senior campaign.
 
Chitsey was a finalist (one of nine) for the NCAA's Woman of the Year honor. She wrapped up her senior year by earning a pair of the league's highest honors, receiving the LSC Academic Athlete of the Year (all sports) and LSC Female Athlete of the Year. The Exercise Sports Science major (also the LSC Women's Basketball Academic Player of the Year honor) graduated with a 3.94 GPA, and was also recognized by the LSC as LCU's female Scholar-Athlete award winner (all-sports). Chitsey, from Wall, Texas, adds to her collection of honors completing her senior season (13 awards received her senior season). During the season alone, she also earned the honor of being named to the WBCA and D2CCA All-America Team, All-Texas Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball), All-South Central Team, as the South Central Region Player of the Year (D2CCA), LSC Athletic Performance Team member and she was the first player in Lone Star Conference history to claim the conference's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Academic Player of the Year honors in the same season. The returning D2CCA All-Region Selection is best known for her overtime three-pointer in LCU's 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State, which led to All-Elite Eight Tournament Honors. She led LCU in scoring (13.5), ranking eighth in the LSC. Chitsey also ranked fourth in the LSC in field goal percentage (46.7%), sixth in blocks (58) and blocks per game (1.9), seventh in field goals made (154) and defensive rebounds per game (4.8) and 10th in free-throw percentage (74.8%). She ranked second on the LCU squad with a per-game plus/minus rate of +16.9 (+17.5 in conference) and is part of a Lady Chaps defense that finished the season leading the nation holding opponents to a 31.7% shooting mark. Chitsey was a LSC All-Tournament Team selection, helping LCU to a LSC Championship title in March. During the summer, she married former LCU basketball player Silas Crisler.
 
Cunyus was the LSC Championship's Tournament MVP, leading LCU with 11.7 points per game at the tournament. In the regular season, the guard claimed her second All-Conference award in her LCU career (2018 All-Heartland Conference). The Canyon, Texas native ranked fourth in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio (1.69), helping LCU rank 24^th nationally in the category. She also ranked ninth in the LSC in assists (98) and assists per game (3.2). Cunyus led LCU with a +18 plus/minus in conference play.

NEW FACES
LCU has five new members making their roster debut. Cambrie Heiman, Maci Maddox, Lara Mason, Audrey Robertson and Shaylee Stovall are the newest members of the Lady Chaps, seeking their collegiate debut.
 
Heiman comes to LCU from Nazareth High School (Nazareth, Texas), where she was part of four state title and a teammate of LCU guard Allie Schulte. Her senior season (2020), Nazareth won their final 17 games, including the championship over Lipan. She ended up claiming All-State honors, claiming the honor for a fourth season. As a junior (2019), she averaged 18 points a game en route to claiming District 3-1A MVP, 1A State Tournament All-Tournament Team and Amarillo Globe Golden Spread Basketball 1A Player of the Year. She claimed Golden Spread honors after averaging 16 points a game as a sophomore (2018) as well. Heiman was the 2018 1A State Tournament MVP. Along with basketball honors, Heiman was a two-time All-State selection in doubles tennis.
 
Maddox is not unfamiliar name to LCU athletics. Her older sister Malorie was a member of the LCU volleyball team, and older brother Peyton was a senior on the LCU baseball squad last season. She was a three-time TGCA All-State selection in 6A and was the 2016-17 District 2-6A Newcomer of the Year, as a freshman, and the 2019-20 District 2-6A MVP her senior season at Frenship High School (Wolforth, Texas). As a junior, she set the single-season school-record with 199 assists (5.7 per game) and came up with 114 steals (3.3 per game). She also averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds a game. Frenship went 30-6 her senior season, leading to Maddox claiming 2020 HubCityPreps.com UIL All-City Player of the Year and Lone Star Varsity Girls Basketball First Team honors. She shot 42 % from three-point range and averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game as a senior.
 
Mason is from Wildorado, Texas and was a two-time TGCA and TABC All-State selection at Vega High School (Vega, Texas). She was the District 3-2A MVP as a senior in 2019-20 after averaging 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 34 games. Mason led Vega to a 33-1 senior season, with the lone loss coming in the playoffs. Combined her sophomore through senior season with a 99-7 record at Vega. Averaged over 12.0 points a game in each of those seasons.
 
Robertson marks the third Robertson sister to join the Lady Chaps, following older sisters Olivia and Juliana. Like them, Audrey comes to LCU after a stellar high school career at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas. She was a two-time TABC All-State selection, and was a TGCA All-State selection as a senior in 2019-20. Her senior season, she averaged 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds during the regular season. Tivy would end up as the Regional Finalist (despite 12 points and 12 rebounds from Robertson in the game) after a pair of State Tournament appearances her sophomore and junior seasons.
 
Stovall is a local product out of Idalou High School in Idalou, Texas. The District 2-3A co-MVP, TABC All-Region honoree led Idalou to a record 32 wins and consecutive Regional Finalist appearances with 16.3 points per game. She also shot 43 percent from the three-point line, distributed 4.5 assists and notched 2.5 steals per. The four-year letterwinner was a three-time TGCA All-State, two-time TABC All-State and three-time TABC All-Region honoree. Was named to multiple Lone Star Varsity Super Teams, including the Super Team Newcomer of the Year accolades in 2016.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Only one of the two national associations conducting national top-25 preseason polls for NCAA Division II women's basketball conducted a preseason poll this season. D2SIDA conducted a preseason poll, and has Lubbock Christian University as the Preseason No.3 ranked program entering the 2020-2021 season. The WBCA Top-25 Poll will begin polling in January.
 
LCU has found their way into the D2SIDA preseason poll seven consecutive seasons, marking every season they have been eligible to appear (due to the transfer from NAIA to NCAA Div. II), ranking No.1 (2019-20), No.3 (2018-19), No.23 (2017-18), No. 4 (2016-17), No.15 (2015-16) and receiving votes in 2014-15. The Lady Chaps received one of the 16 first-place votes, and was the only school other that preseason favorite, Drury, to receive a first-place vote.
 
The D2SIDA polls are voted on by a committee of sports information directors at Division II member institutions nationwide. LCU, the preseason Lone Star Conference favorites, was the top team slated in the South Central Region D2SIDA Top-10 rankings, and the only program nationally to receive all six first-place votes from within their own region.

SEASON OPENERS
LCU is probably more known for how they finish the season, than how they begin the season. The Lady Chaps are 7-6 over their last 13 season openers. LCU opened last season with a 77-60 win over Colorado State - Pueblo in Lubbock (Nov. 8, 2019). LCU is 27-14 all-time and 11-6 under head coach Steve Gomez. Friday marks the second consecutive season LCU has opened the season at home (their prior four before the stretch were away from home).

CONFERENCE OPENERS
This season marks LCU's second season in the Lone Star Conference. The season opener doubles as LCU's conference opener this season. Twenty (20) of LCU's 22 scheduled games are conference games. LCU's LSC opener is their 27^th conference opener after six Heartland Conference and 19 Sooner Athletic Conference openers (excludes NAIA District openers).  The Lady Chaps went 11-8 all-time in SAC openers and 5-1 in HC openers, with a loss at St. Mary's (Dec. 31, 2016) marking their only loss in a Heartland Conference opener. They are 15-2 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez. They have won 14 of their prior 15 consecutive conference openers, including a 75-64 win at Angelo State (Nov. 23, 2019) to place them at 1-0 all-time in LSC openers.
 
JUST ANNOUNCED
The Lone Star Conference announced it will use a point rating system to determine its men's and women's basketball standings this year due to COVID-19 related schedule adjustments.
 
The point rating system will replace winning percentage for the LSC's basketball conference standings, divisional standings and conference tournament seeding in 2020-21. 
 
The system assigns a numerical value to game results depending on the site and quality of the opponent. Teams will earn more points for a win on the road or at home against top competition based on conference winning percentage and receive fewer points for a win against lesser opposition. Points are also dispersed for losses, with more points awarded for a loss against stronger competition. 
 
Each week, the team ratings will be determined by taking the total points divided by league games played with the opponents winning percentage updated throughout the year.

The LSC will publish the point rating system rankings in mid-January and post weekly updates for the rest of the season.
 
The change will help offset an unbalanced league schedule and games canceled due to COVID-19.  Typically, the LSC slate includes games against all other league teams but this year is using a modified "bubble" schedule format to enhance student-athlete safety with regard to COVID-19 and reduce the amount of contact amongst teams by playing the same opponent twice during the week.
 
The conference tournament will consist of the top eight men's and women's teams with first-round games on-campus on Tuesday, March 2 followed by the four winning teams advancing to the final site at the highest remaining seed on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6.
 
LSC POINT RATING SYSTEM
Points shall be awarded for each conference contest played:
7 points – win over a .750 or better team on the road
6.5 points – win over a .750 or better team at home
6 points – win over a .500 or better team on the road
5 points – win over a .500 or better team at home
4.5 points – win over a .250 or better team on the road
4 points – win over a .250 team or better at home
3.5 points – win over an under .250 team on the road
3 points – win over an under .250 team at home
2.5 points – loss at home or on the road to a .750 or better team
2 points – loss to a .500 or better team at home or on the road
1 point – loss to a .250 or better team at home or on the road
.5 points – loss to an under .250 team on the road
0 points – loss to an under .250 team at home
 
COVID AND VIEWING OPTIONS
COVID-19 regulations by LCU will have the Rip Griffin Center at 50% capacity. Season pass holders have been notified of their seat assignments.  If any season pass holders have not received their seat assignments, they should contact the LCU Athletic Department. Student-athletes will receive their pass list (as usual), and a limited allotment of single game tickets will be made available for general LCU students. All home game ticket and spectator policies are subject to change on a game-by-game basis. For games allowing fans, a limited number of tickets are available (admission covers both men's and women's games on that date) to the general public on www.lcuchaps.com/tickets.
 
Each game will be broadcast on the LSC Digital Network as an option for fans unable to attend. The Lone Star Conference announced details of a new hybrid pricing model for the LSC Digital Network beginning with the 2020-21 winter and spring seasons. The broadcasts of volleyball and men's and women's basketball games will be available via pay-per-view (PPV) conference-wide under the new model. Fans can purchase a $10 daily pass that will give them access to all LSC football, volleyball and basketball contests on the network that day, as well as access to previously aired games from the current season for 24 hours. In addition to live and archived streaming options, viewers will have the option to purchase and download games from the 2020-21 season for $10 each. Select games of all other sports carried on the LSC Digital Network will be available free-to-view (FTV) or PPV at the discretion of the broadcasting institution. The LSC Digital Network is in its second year showcasing the academic and athletic events of the league and its 18 member institutions. Fans can watch games and purchase passes online at www.lonestarconferencenetwork.com or www.lcuchaps.com/live on computer and mobile devices. Viewers can also tune in to games on the LSC Digital Network via OTT apps available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku by searching for "LSC Digital Network."
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 13-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. They enter Friday's play with their active home win streak sitting at 78 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 66 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 (they are 13-0 in LSC 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
78 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
77 – LCU (Division II)
57 – Baylor (Division I)
55 – Drury (Division II)
39 – Iowa (Division I)

FIVE THINGS ABOUT ST. MARY'S
1 > The Rattlers are coming off a 14-14 campaign in 2019-20, finishing 12-10 in the Lone Star Conference and tied atop their division with a 7-3 record. They are opening the season in Lubbock for a second consecutive year, as they opened with Southwestern Oklahoma State in a neutral site contest.
2 > St. Mary's is preseason picked fifth in the LSC Preseason Poll. This season, they are in the South Division, which has St. Edward's Texas A&M International, Texas A&M – Kingsville, and UT Tyler joining StMU.
3 > Senior Hannah Wilson is a returning All-Conference selection for the Rattlers. Last season, she averaged a double-double with 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. She led the conference and ranked 33^rd nationally in double-doubles with 12.
4 > This season tips the 15^th season for head coach Jason Martens. He enters the campaign 256-145 and as the winningest head coach in Rattlers history.
5 > A vital piece the Rattlers are seeking to replace from last season is Alexia Torres. The point guard led the LSC last season in assist/turnover ratio (2.21, which was 21^st nationally) and third in the conference in assists per game (4.5).

THE SERIES AGAINST StMU
LCU leads the all-times series 16-3 over StMU. The Lady Chaps are 13-2 against the Rattlers since the 2013-14 season and are 7-0 inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU has won seven straight meetings following their prior meeting (70-48 win in Lubbock on Jan. 23, 2020), which was their lone meeting last season.

ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. StMU
Here is a look at LCU's top three active leaders career vs. StMU:

Allie Schulte 5gp – 7.8 pts/g, 14/22 fg, 7/10 3-pt fg
Ashton Duncan 5gp - 6.8 pts/g, 9/21 3-pt fg
Channing Cunyus 3gp - 5.3 pts/g, 6/9 fg, 4/5 fg inside the arc 1 GP 11.0 pts/g

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. StMU
Jan. 23, 2019 (Lubbock, Texas) - StMU:48 - LCU:70
No.9 Lubbock Christian University returned to winning form behind 11 three-pointers and four players in double-figures in points, as they shook off a two-game losing streak and ended St. Mary's five-game win streak with a 70-48 Lone Star Conference non-divisional win inside Rip Griffin Center.

The scoring in each quarter took a while to get going (neither team produced one point in the opening minute of any quarter), and in the first quarter, the Lady Chaps and Rattlers combined to miss their first 10 shot attempts before Ashton Duncan knocked down a three-pointer for LCU on their seventh shot attempt of the game (game was scoreless for the first 3:07). Once the lid was lifted, LCU closed the quarter going 9-of-11 (81.8%) from the field. Included in the surge was six consecutive field goal attempts and seven three-pointers. LCU was 7-of-10 (70%) from three-point range in the quarter and 9-of-17 (52.9%) overall from the field. Channing Cunyus had eight straight points to fuel a 13-0 run, which was part of a 22-4 scoring outburst to give LCU a 25-7 lead at the close of the quarter. LCU's defense was also on display, as they held StMU to21.4% (3-of-14) shooting in the quarter.

While Cunyus had her scoring moment in the first quarter, it was Maddi Chitsey on a scoring rage in the second quarter. Chitsey had eight points in the quarter and they were LCU's final eight points of the half tohelp provide LCU a 37-18 lead. LCU was 8-of-16 (50%) from long range in the half, cooling off from the hot start by going 1-of-6 in the quarter beyond the arc. The two teams combined for nine offensive rebounds (five by StMU) but neither team had any second-chance-points.

Rattlers leading scorer on the season, Soteria Banks, was held scoreless in the first half, but hit a three-pointer to spur a 5-0 run to start the second half. With 5:02 remaining in the quarter, the Rattlers cut the LCU lead to 43-29. Madelyn Turner was LCU's offensive sparkplug in the third quarter and she had eight points in the quarter and helped LCU to a 9-0 run to put their lead at 52-29 two minutes later. Laynee Burr closed out the quarter with a three-point play to give the Lady Chaps a 58-37 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Allie Schulte had the fourth quarter spotlight for LCU, as she single-handedly had a 7-0 run to extend LCU's lead to 66-40 with 6:25 remaining (largest lead of the game). Reserves filled the gaps the rest of the way, as not one Lady Chap played less than three minutes.

LCU finished the game 11-of-29 (37.9%) from long distance, with the 29 attempts serving as a season high. Seven different Lady Chaps had at least one three-pointer, with Turner connecting on 3-of-5. Turner finished with 11 points and was one of four Lady Chaps to finish in double figures in points. Chitsey led all scorers with 17 points and was followed by Schulte (15 points) and Cunyus (10 points). Cunyus also posted a career-high two blocks.

The Lady Chaps committed two turnovers in the second half and finished with a season-low seven in the contest. The seven turnovers were their lowest since producing seven at Texas A&M International on Jan. 10, 2019, and their lowest total at home since they had six on Feb. 2, 2017 (also against TAMIU).

StMU fell to 8-8 overall (7-5 in conference) and had their five-game win streak snapped. They were 19-of-55 (34.5%) from the field and were led in scoring by Banks, who finished with 11 points (all in the second half). The Rattlers showed balance, as 10 different players had at least one field goal.