TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (9-15, 6-12) at No.8 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (21-3, 15-3) February 20, 2020 • 5:30 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast TV: Fox 34 News Now (34.2 Digital, Suddenlink 109) Talent: Chris Due (Play-By-Play) 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: Lucas Kinsey (Play-by-Play) LISTEN: 100.7 "TheScore" Talent: Chris Due (Play-By-Play) LCU Social Media:
	TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (9-15, 6-12) Location: Laredo, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Nate Vogel (Black Hills State, 2002) Roster | Stats | Game Notes
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (17-3, 11-3, 4-2) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

LAST LOOK
No.8 Lubbock Christian University plays their final homestand of the regular season this week, hosting Texas A&M International Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Texas A&M – Kingsville Saturday (2 p.m.) inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday at halftime of the men's basketball contest. LCU enters the week 21-3 and in a share of second place in the Lone Star Conference standings (with West Texas A&M). There are four regular season games remaining.
 
INSIDE PLAY LED TO WINS LAST WEEK
Maddi Chitsey offensively led LCU to a 2-0 week with road wins at Arkansas-Ft.Smith (71-63) and Oklahoma Christian (81-57) by averaging 17.5 points a contest. Against UAFS, she was 4-of-8 from the field and provided three blocks on the defensive end of a 14-point performance. She followed with 21 points against OC, in which she had 18 points off 7-of-8 shooting in the opening half. Chitsey was 2-of-3 from long range and also co-led the team with seven rebounds and four assists. On the week, she was 3-of-4 from three-point range, 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the line and averaged 5.5 boards and 2.5 assists per game.
 
Emma Middleton assisted LCU on the defensive side to a 2-0 week. She led LCU with 16 boards on the week (8.0 per game). Middleton matched a career high in rebounds (9), but needed one more to complete a double-double, as her 18 points and nine rebounds helped LCU to a road win at UAFS. She followed with eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals at OC. Middleton went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line during the week.
 
LONE STAR DEBUT
The Lady Chaps are playing in their first season in the Lone Star Conference and are 15-3 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 6.6 rebounds per conference game. Allie Schulte (12.7) and Ashton Duncan (10.4) are each averaging in double figures in conference contests. LCU has the advantage in three-point field goals (141-92), steals (132-120) and blocks (91-50) in LSC games. The Lady Chaps have a scoring margin per-game of 15.6 and are holding opponents to a 34.0% shooting mark in those contests.
 
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Advance tickets for the 2020 Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championship are on sale now for Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals and Lady Chaparrals supporters, with all-session passes $15 off the regular price through Mar. 4. Additional avenues to purchase tickets (Ticketmaster and at the Comerica Center box office), but surcharges and additional fees can be avoided by purchasing them through the LCU Athletic Department. Tickets purchased through LCU can be completed online through http://www.lcu.edu/lsctournament . Ticket sales through the link will end at 5 p.m. on Mar. 3. Purchased tickets may be picked up at the LCU Athletic Department offices by Mar. 3 and any unclaimed tickets will be available at Comerica Center's designated "Will Call" area beginning Mar. 5. Ticket purchases may also be made in-person at LCU basketball games this week inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
LONG DISTANCE NEWS
Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 63 three-pointers this season (third in the LSC). Duncan leads the LSC shooting 43.2% from long range (ranks 23^rd nationally) and ranks second in the LSC with 2.6 three-pointers per game. She has made at least three three-pointers in 14 games this season and has combined for 17 over the prior five games.
 
TOO MUCH MATH INVOLVED
LCU has one individual player in the top-five in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio and leads the LSC with a team assist/turnover ratio of 1.16, which ranks 25^th nationally. LCU's individual leader is Caitlyn Cunyus, who ranks fourth in the LSC with a 1.61 ratio (ranks 84^th nationally).
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 15-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. With LCU's 77-53 win over Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 8, LCU extended their active home win streak to 76 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 64 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
76 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
76 – LCU (Division II)
53 – Baylor (Division I)
51 – Drury (Division II)
34 – Iowa (Division I)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
LCU is 11-0 at home this season. Maddi Chitsey leads LCU averaging 13.5 points at home and joins Allie Schulte (12.9) and Ashton Duncan (10.1) as players averaging double figures in points at home. LCU is shooting 47.6% at home this season and they are holding opponents to a 31.5% shooting mark. They are 84.7% (122/144) from the free-throw line at home and have a 55-17 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 marked 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) on Jan. 21. They worked their way to No.8 in the WBCA poll until falling at A&M-Commerce, but bounced back to No.8 in this week's polls. The D2SIDA poll currently has them at No.14.
 
HOW TOUGH IS IT?
LCU's strength of schedule, of games played, ranks as the third toughest schedule of games played in NCAA Division II play. LCU's opponents have combined for a .597 win percentage. They have the toughest strength of schedule of games played of ranked programs. The Lady Chaps have faced four nationally ranked programs and LCU is 2-2 against those foes this season (LCU went 6-1 last season against nationally ranked foes).
 
BLOCK PARTIES ARE BACK
LCU ranks 10th nationally in blocks (124) and 11th in blocks per game (5.2). Maddi Chitsey leads the team with 50 blocks (fourth in the conference and 25^th nationally), at a pace of 2.1 per game (fifth in the conference and 27^th 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
The Lady Chaps lead the LSC in free-throw percentage (ranking 23^rd nationally) at 77.7%. 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 fifth in the LSC with a 76.7% shooting mark from the line (Caitlyn Cunyus, 45/51 - 88.2% and Madelyn Turner, 31/35 - 88.6% do not qualify with enough attempts).
 
BE DEFENSIVE
The Lady Chaps ranks second in the LSC and rank eighth nationally, holding opponents to a 33.2% shooting mark on the season. Of their 24 contests, LCU has held the opponent to under a 30% shooting mark eight times and the highest shooting percentage they have allowed in a game was 43.1% by UAFS, which was one of only two times an LCU opponent has shot over 40.0% this season.
 
WE SALUTE YOU
Saturday, during halftime of the men's 3 p.m. tip-off against Texas A&M-Kingsville, LCU will honor their seniors as a part of Senior Day. Maddi Chitsey and Caitlin Cunyus will be recognized as this season's senior class. Cunyus looks to complete a milestone this week, as she enters the week 26 points shy of 800 in her LCU career.
 
REGIONAL REVIEW
The NCAA released their first South Central Regional Rankings of the season Wednesday and the Lady Chaps are ranked second in the regional standings. The No.1 seed in the final rankings released after the conference tournaments 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. Texas A&M-Commerce
2. Lubbock Christian
3. West Texas A&M   
4. Colorado Mesa      
5. Tarleton State        
6. Western Colorado
7. Westminster (Utah)
8. Angelo State
9. Eastern New Mexico
10. Colorado School of Mines
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT TAMIU
1 > The Dustdevils went 0-27 in 2018-19, which came to an end with an opening round loss in the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. to LCU. They went 0-13 on the road last season and are 4-5 this season on the road.
2 > TAMIU was preseason picked 18th in the LSC Preseason Poll. They are 9-15 overall this season with a 6-12 conference record (13^th in the conference) and a 3-5 divisional record.
3 > Nate Vogel is the TAMIU head coach in his first season with the Dustdevils, but he is no stranger to the Rip Griffin Center. He joined TAMIU from Miles Community College, where he led Miles to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament (Rip Griffin Center hosts the tournament).
4 > TAMIU ranks eighth nationally, forcing the opposition into 22.8 turnovers per game.
5 > Nicole Heyn ranks 34^th nationally and is second in the LSC in steals with 61.

THE SERIES AGAINST TAMIU
LCU leads the all-times series 15-1 against TAMIU. The Lady Chaps won the first five and the prior 10 series meetings. LCU went 3-0 against TAMIU the prior two seasons, as they met up at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. each of the prior two seasons. The Lady Chaps won the prior meeting 91-43 (Mar. 7, 2019) in Tulsa and 88-19 in the previous meeting in Lubbock (Feb. 9, 2019).  LCU is 7-0 all-time against TAMIU in Lubbock and they went 12-1 against TAMIU while the two were Heartland Conference members.

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

Maddi Chitsey 8GP 10.5 pts/g, 73.5% FG (36/49)
Allie Schulte 6GP 10.0 pts/g, 9/16 3p-FG
Laynee Burr 3GP 7.7 pts/g,53.3% FG (8/15)

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. TAMIU
Mar. 7, 2019 (Tulsa, Okla.) - LCU:91 - TAMIU:43
No.25 Lubbock Christian University opened the Heartland Conference Tournament setting a tournament scoring margin record with a 91-43 victory over Texas A&M International in the quarterfinals held inside Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC).

LCU's 48-point margin of victory topped their prior Heartland Conference Tournament high of 46 points on Feb. 3, 2016 against Texas - Permian Basin (79-33), which had also been the Heartland Conference Tournament record. LCU's 91 points was their highest offensive output in their history in the tournament.

The Lady Chaps responded with run after run to push their all-time tournament record to 9-1. After TAMIUwent on a 5-0 run to take a 5-2 lead, LCU answered with a 10-0 run, which was part of a 16-2 run backed by Allie Schulte (nine points) and Maddi Chitsey (seven points) combining for 16 points in the first quarter to give LCU a 24-13 lead at the quarter's close. TAMIU went a scoreless span of 7:31, which leaked 6:21 into the second quarter, while LCU was on an 18-0 run. Chitsey produced 10 points in the second quarter (17 points in the first half) and joined Schulte and Caitlyn Cunyus by connecting on a three-pointer, which was part of a 9-0 run to open the second half (capped a 16-0 LCU run). LCU's final "big run" came at the close of the third quarter. They closed the quarter on a 5-0 run and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to combine for a 13-0 run. Emma Middleton was LCU's workhorse in the final quarter, registering all 13 of her points in the quarter to notch a career high.

Middleton was not the lone Lady Chap producing a career high offensively. Freshman Laynee Burr contributed a career-high nine points, with seven scored in the second half. The Lady Chaps found success from outside. Entering the game with an all-time program shooting mark of 26.5% from three-point range at the tournament (all at UMAC), LCU was 8-of-16 from long range, draining three-point field goals at a 50% rate. Seven different Lady Chaps contributed at least one three-pointer, with Schulte leading LCU with two long-range strikes. They were 54.4% (31/57) overall from the field.

Along with holding TAMIU to a 28.8% (17/59) shooting mark from the field, which included a 9.1% (1-11) struggle in the second quarter, LCU's defense caused 23 turnovers. LCU matched a program tournament-high in steals with 12 (nine different players had at least one steal). LCU has notched 12 steals in three of the four quarterfinal games they have played in tournament history.

The lone bright spot for the Dustdevils, who conclude their season 0-27 and extending their losing streak to 29 games, was Troi Lucas scoring 16 points and Christine Ortega bringing down 10 boards. TAMIU was outscored 21-2 from the free-throw line, as TAMIU was whistled for 20 personal fouls (compared to seven against LCU).

Maddi Chitsey led LCU with 20 points in the contest. She was 7-of-8 from the field and tallied her 20 points in 17 minutes of played. Schulte finished with 14 points. Every Lady Chaps member played at least 11 minutes and none of the Lady Chaps played more than 18 minutes.