TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE (4-17, 3-16) at No.8 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (22-3, 16-3) February 22, 2020 • 1 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: Lucas Kinsey (Play-by-Play) LISTEN: Oldies 97.7 FM Talent: Chris Due (Play-By-Play) LCU Social Media:
	TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE (4-17, 3-16) Location: Kingsville, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Michael Madrid (Eastern New Mexico, 1998) Roster | Stats | Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (22-3, 16-3) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

SENIORITIS
No.8 Lubbock Christian University plays their final regular season home game Saturday, hosting Texas A&M – Kingsville at 1 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps will celebrate Senior Day Saturday at halftime of the men's basketball contest. LCU enters the game 22-3 and in a share of second place in the Lone Star Conference standings (with West Texas A&M). There are three regular season games remaining.
 
GOOD START THURSDAY
Lubbock Christian University opened Thursday's contest against Texas A&M International on a 17-0 run, with Emma Middleton scoring 10 of her game-high 16 points in the run, and the Lady Chaparrals never looked back in a 71-36 Lone Star Conference victory inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
While TAMIU missed their first six field goal attempts over the game's opening seven minutes, LCU was 8-of-13 from the field (it included a 7-of-9 stretch) and with a 17-0 lead. Maddi Chitsey netted the opening four points before Middleton knocked down four straight inside-buckets for eight straight points. LCU had eight field goals in the 17-0 stretch, with a three-pointer from Ashton Duncan marking the only long-distance field goal of the mix. LCU also went on a 12-0 and 16-0 run later in the game to build their distance towards the win.

The Lady Chaps were 50.9% (29/57) from the field, marking the fifth time they have finished over 50% shooting over their last six games. Middleton was 8-of-11 from the field in her 16-point performance. She was joined in double figures by Caitlyn Cunyus and Allie Schulte, who each had 12 points. Schulte, posting 10 points in the second half, finished the game with a plus/minus of +42 and was one of three Lady Chaps with at least a +40 in the game (Chitsey and Duncan). Chitsey recorded nine rebounds, with four on the offensive end, helping LCU to nine offensive rebounds (as a team) and an 11-2 scoring advantage in second-chance-scoring (third straight game with at least 10 points in second chance scoring). Duncan posted a career-high with a game-high six assists.

The Dustdevils, held to 25.5% shooting (the lowest by an LCU opponent this season), dropped to 9-16 on the season and 6-13 in conference play. Clara Fernandez led TAMIU with 10 points. She was 4-of-5 from the field, while the rest of the team was a combined 9-of-46 (19.6%).
 
LONE STAR DEBUT
The Lady Chaps are playing in their first season in the Lone Star Conference and are 16-3 this season in conference play. A trio of Lady Chaps are averaging double figures in LSC play, led by Maddi Chitsey, who is averaging 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per conference game. Allie Schulte (12.6) and Ashton Duncan (10.2) are each averaging in double figures in conference contests. LCU has the advantage in three-point field goals (151-96), steals (145-124) and blocks (94-54) in LSC games. The Lady Chaps have a scoring margin per-game of 16.6 and are holding opponents to a 33.6% 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 65 three-pointers this season (third in the LSC). Duncan leads the LSC shooting 43.0% from long range (ranks 23^rd nationally) and ranks third 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 19 over the prior six 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 1.66 ratio (ranks 71^st nationally).
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 15-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. With LCU's 71-36 win over Texas A&M International Thursday, LCU extended their active home win streak to 77 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 65 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
77 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
77 – LCU (Division II)
53 – Baylor (Division I)
51 – Drury (Division II)
34 – Iowa (Division I)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
LCU is 12-0 at home this season. Maddi Chitsey and Allie Schulte are each co-leads LCU averaging 12.8 points at home this season and are the only players averaging double digits in scoring inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU is shooting 47.9% at home this season and they are holding opponents to a 31.1% shooting mark. They are 84.5% (125/148) from the free-throw line at home and have a 58-21 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 fourth toughest schedule of games played in NCAA Division II play. LCU's opponents have combined for a .588 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). To put it into comparison with the top team in the conference, Texas A&M – Commerce's strength of schedule ranks 275^th nationally.
 
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 sixth 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 fifth nationally, holding opponents to a 33.0% shooting mark on the season. Of their 25 contests, LCU has held the opponent to under a 30% shooting mark nine 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 14 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 TAMUK
1 > The Javelinas are coming off a 9-19 season in 2019-20, which came to an end with an opening round loss in the LSC Championships in Frisco, Texas to West Texas A&M. They posted a 3-10 road mark last season and are 3-9 on the road this season.
2 > TAMUK was preseason picked 13th in the LSC Preseason Poll. They are 4-17 overall this season with a 3-16 conference record (17^th in the conference) and a 1-7 divisional record.
3 > Michael Madrid is the first-year head coach of the Javelinas. He served as an assistant coach at LCU under Steve Gomez from 2005-2010. The meeting Saturday marks the first time in a regular season game in which a former LCU assistant under Gomez has gone head-to-head coaching against Gomez.
4 > TAMUK ranks second in the LSC and 30^th nationally in fewest fouls, with a mark of 360 on the season.
5 > Anastacia Mickens ranks 10^th in the LSC averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.  

THE SERIES AGAINST TAMUK
Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the two squads.