No.6 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (24-3, 18-3, 7-2) at WESTERN NEW MEXICO (8-17, 5-16, 0-9) February 29, 2020 • 3:00 p.m. (Central) Silver City, N.M. • Drag's Court (1,100) 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: Ed Nunez (Play-By-Play) LCU Social Media:
	WESTERN NEW MEXICO MUSTANGS (8-17, 5-16, 0-9) Location: Silver City, N.M. Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Lauren Unger (Texas - Permian Basin, 2012) Roster | Stats | Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (24-3, 18-3, 7-2) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

END OF THE REGULAR SEASON ROAD
No.6 Lubbock Christian University closes out the regular season in Silver City, N.M. Saturday, facing Western New Mexico (3 p.m. Central tip). LCU (24-3 overall) enters the game tied with West Texas A&M in the conference standings (each are 18-3). If they end the regular season with the same record, WT would have the tiebreaker (WT defeated Texas A&M-Commerce). WT hosts Cameron Saturday.
 
DEFENSE CONTINUES ON DISPLAY
Thursday, for a third consecutive game, LCU shot over 50% from the field while holding the opposition to a shooting percentage below 30%. They shot 50.9% shooting percentage which led LCU to a 75-44 Lone Star Conference divisional road victory over Texas-Permian Basin, who was held to a 25.4% shooting performance.
 
Lubbock Christian went 2-0 last week with home wins over Texas A&M International (71-36) and Texas A&M – Kingsville (71-29) in which they held their opponents to a combined 55 points off 21.1% shooting. TAMUK was held to 17.2% shooting from the field.
 
LCU has allowed two points in the third quarter of the combined two prior games played. They held TAMUK scoreless in the quarter and Thursday they held UTPB to two points in the quarter.
 
LONE STAR DEBUT
The Lady Chaps are playing in their first season in the Lone Star Conference and are 18-3 this season in conference play. A pair of Lady Chaps are averaging double figures in LSC play, led by Maddi Chitsey, who is averaging 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per conference game. Allie Schulte (12.3) is also averaging in double figures in conference contests. LCU has the advantage in three-point field goals (166-103), steals (163-139) and blocks (104-63) in LSC games. The Lady Chaps have a scoring margin per-game of 18.5 and are holding opponents to a 32.4% 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.
 
LONG DISTANCE NEWS
Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 69 three-pointers this season (fourth in the LSC). Duncan leads the LSC shooting 42.3% from long range (ranks 27^th nationally) and ranks third in the LSC with 2.6 three-pointers per game. She has made at least three three-pointers in 15 games this season and made at least one three-pointer in her last 28 games played.
 
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 1.17, which ranks 20^th nationally. LCU's individual leader is Caitlyn Cunyus, who ranks fourth in the LSC with a 1.64 ratio (ranks 75^th nationally).
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 15-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. With LCU's 71-29 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday (closed out a 13-0 home record this season), LCU extended their active home win streak to 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.
 
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 
78 – LCU (Division II)
54 – Baylor (Division I)
52 – Drury (Division II)
35 – Iowa (Division I)
 
BUT ON THE ROAD…
LCU is 8-3 in road play this season. Maddi Chitsey leads LCU averaging 15.2 points on the road and joins Allie Schulte (11.2) and Ashton Duncan (11.1) as players averaging double figures in points on the road. LCU is shooting 45.9% on the road this season and they are holding opponents to a 34.3% shooting mark.
 
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 have bounced back to move to No.6 in this week's polls. The D2SIDA poll currently has them at No.13.
 
HOW TOUGH IS IT?
LCU's strength of schedule, of games played, ranks as the 14th toughest schedule of games played in NCAA Division II play. LCU's opponents have combined for a .567 win percentage. They have the toughest strength of schedule of South Central Region teams. 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 265^th nationally.
 
BLOCK PARTIES ARE BACK
LCU ranks 12th nationally in blocks (137) and 12th in blocks per game (5.1). Maddi Chitsey leads the team with 51 blocks (sixth in the conference and 32^nd nationally), at a pace of 1.9 per game (sixth in the conference and 36^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 22^nd nationally) at 77.9%. 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 seventh in the LSC with a 75.5% shooting mark from the line (Caitlyn Cunyus, 45/51 - 88.2% and Madelyn Turner, 33/37 - 89.2% do not qualify with enough attempts).
 
BE DEFENSIVE
The Lady Chaps lead the nation, holding opponents to a 32.1% shooting mark on the season. Of their 27 contests, LCU has held the opponent to under a 30% shooting mark 11 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. Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville, LCU held the Javelinas scoreless in the third quarter, which marked the second time in program history they have held a team scoreless in a quarter. LCU also ranks eighth nationally in defensive scoring, holding the opposition to an average of 53.6 points a game.
 
COURAGEOUS HONOR
Lubbock Christian University women's basketball forward Whitney Cox had a special moment in the preseason, as she was able to compete against her older sister, Lauren, as LCU faced Baylor in Waco on October 30, 2019. Tuesday, the two were individually notified and informed they will see each other at the NCAA Women's Final Four in New Orleans, as co-recipients of the Pat Summitt Award for Courage by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).
 
Lauren was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of seven and has been a model and an unofficial spokesman towards the awareness of T1D. Her younger sister, Whitney, was diagnosed at the age of 17, and now both players have aimed to inspire others with T1D.
 
Whitney is in her first season with the Lady Chaps and has appeared in 12 games this season. She is coming off a career-high four-rebound performance against Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday. Whitney is a Humanities major and a member of LCU's Honor College.
 
REGIONAL REVIEW
The NCAA released their second 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. Western Colorado  
6. Westminster (Utah)
7. Angelo State
8. Tarleton
9. Eastern New Mexico
10. St. Edward's
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT WNMU
1 > The Mustangs are 8-17 this season following a 74-54 conference home loss to Angelo State. They are coming off a 10-17 season in 2018-19, finishing tied for eighth in the LSC with a 6-14 conference record.
2 > WNMU was preseason picked 15th in the LSC Preseason Poll. The Mustangs are 5-16 in LSC play (16^th place) and are 0-9 in divisional play.
3 > Western New Mexico ranks second in the LSC in three-point shooting percentage with a mark of 34.2% on the season. They have produced at least a 50% shooting mark from outside five times this season and four of the five times was with at least 19 attempts. 
4 > The Mustangs do not foul much, ranking second in the LSC in total fouls (398) and fifth in the conference in fouls per game (15.3).
5 > Paulina Rodriguez ranks fourth in the LSC in total minutes (881:31), ranking third in minutes per game (33.9).

THE SERIES AGAINST WNMU
The Mustangs and Lady Chaps are set to meet for the 20th time in an all-time series that dates back to 1980. WNMU has a 10-9 series lead, but has not defeated the Lady Chaps since 1994. LCU has won the prior five meetings five meetings, with the latest resulting in an 64-40 win on Jan. 2 in Lubbock. LCU is 3-3 in Silver City, N.M. against WNMU, but have not met there since Nov. 20, 2007 (85-55 LCU win). The home-and-home conference schedule this season marks the first time the two teams have a home-and-home scheduled in a single season since 1994, when each were members of the NAIA.

ACTIVE LEADERS VS. WNMU
Here is a look at the top-three active Lady Chaps career leaders against WNMU:
Maddi Chitsey / 2 games (16.5 points, 13/20 FG)
Caitlyn Cunyus / 2 games (11.0 points, 6/12 3pt-FG)
Laynee Burr / 1 game (10 points, 4/6 FG)

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. WNMU
Jan. 2, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU:64 - WNMU:40
No.1 Lubbock Christian University used a 13-0 run in the opening quarter and an 18-point performance by Maddi Chitsey fueled a 42-16 scoring advantage in the paint, as LCU cruised to a 64-40 Lone Star Conference divisional win over Western New Mexico inside Rip Griffin  Center.

LCU's performance revolved around their defense. They held Western New Mexico to a 28.8% shooting mark (15/52) from the field, marking the third time this season LCU held an opponent to a shooting percentage under 30% at home. The 40 points tallied was the fewest by an LCU opponent this season and the fewest since LCU held Arkansas Fort Smith to 29 points on Feb. 14, 2019.

The defensive tone was set early. WNMU scored the first bucket of the game, but then missed their next eight field goal attempts, while LCU went on a 13-0 run to close the quarter with a 13-2 lead. The Mustangs were 1-of-11 (9.1%) from the field in the opening quarter. LCU had a sluggish quarter, going 6-of-18 (33.3%) from the field, but took advantage of seven forced turnovers and five offensive boards to mount up the scoring chances.

The Lady Chaps built their lead in the second quarter, using a 7-1 scoring advantage from the free-throw line in the quarter. LCU also used six points in the quarter from Laynee Burr, including an alley-oop style layup off a feed from Ashton Duncan to cap an 8-0 run to close the first half for a 33-12 LCU halftime lead. The Mustangs committed 11 turnovers in the first half, leading to a 12-5 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers.

LCU was quiet with their outside shooting, but in the third quarter, three-pointers by Caitlyn Cunyus and Duncan capped an 11-4 LCU run for a 43-16 lead. WNMU's Alicia Mardis, who entered the game leading the Mustangs offense, was held without a point until a field goal four minutes into the third quarter. She ended up with five points and all five were tallied in the third quarter. Mardis helped WNMU go on an 8-0 run in the quarter, cutting LCU's lead to 43-24. The run ended prior to the end-of-the-quarter horn, as Cunyus hit a runner prior to time expiring.

Chitsey and Madelyn Turner each had five points in the fourth quarter and the two poured all 10 points during a 10-3 LCU run for a 55-29 advantage with 5:20 remaining. The 10-3 run was part of 17-7 scoring stretch by LCU, which witnessed LCU taking their largest lead of the game (62-33) with 2:19 left. WNMU responded with a late 7-0 scoring run.

LCU finished the game with a 36-29 rebound advantage. Emma Middleton matched a career high for a second straight game with seven rebounds. Chitsey also had seven boards to go along with four assists. She was 8-of-12 from the field for her 18 points, which marked the fourth consecutive game in which she scored at least 16 points. Burr was LCU's only other player with at least 10 points.