CATCHING UP FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE
No.6 Lubbock Christian University and No.17 West Texas A&M, who had three prior all-time meetings before this season. Saturday inside Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, LCU and WT will meet for a third time this season, as they battle in the Semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Championship for a neutral site edition of the "Rivalry on the Range." The meeting marks the first time ever the two teams have met on a neutral site court. Each team won on their home floor in the regular season series and regional hosting implications are on the line Saturday, as the two nationally ranked programs are the top-two teams in this week's South Central Region Rankings produced by the NCAA.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat WT, they will improve to 27-3 on the season and will advance to the Sunday's Championship Game to face either Texas A&M-Commerce or Eastern New Mexico.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Belles, their record will drop to 26-4, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will await an at-large bid for the NCAA South Central Region Tournament. The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show will air Sunday, Mar. 8 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
BELLE-RINGING SISTERS
Madelyn Turner's career-high 18 points and the combination of play by sisters Caitlyn and Channing Cunyus fueled a 57.4% shooting performance, which helped LCU to a 91-65 Quarterfinals victory over Angelo State Thursday in Frisco.

Turner's career-high performance shared the spotlight with sisters Caitlyn and Channing Cunyus. Caitlyn ended a three-minute LCU scoring drought in the second quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play. The play was the start of a 15-2 run to help LCU take a 42-31 lead into the locker room. Caitlin had 10 of the points during the run (Channing had the other five) and finished the half leading LCU's offense. She combined with Channing for 18 points in the quarter and in the half. Channing's first three-pointer in the quarter was assisted by Caitlin for her 300th career assist. Caitlin also surpassed 800 career points in the contest.

Turner was 7-of-11 from the field and led all Lady Chaps with her career-high 18 points. Caitlyn Cunyus finished with 17 points and Channing posted a +30 plus/minus in 14 minutes of play.

CLOSED STRONG
LCU closed the regular season last week with LSC divisional road wins at Texas-Permian Basin and Western New Mexico. Maddi Chitsey leading the way offensively for LCU with an average of 12.5 points per game. She played 24 minutes in each game and led LCU with an average plus/minus of +30 in each game. Chitsey opened the week with 11 points and five rebounds at UTPB and followed with 14 points at WNMU.
 
The defensive side was fueled by the play of Juliana Robertson. The junior forward averaged 8.0 defensive rebounds on the week and posted average plus/minus of +24.5. She led the team with a 40-minute plus/minus pace of +69. Robertson posted eight points and six rebounds in a win at UTPB and followed with 10 rebounds and two steals at WNMU. LCU held opponents to a 23.9% shooting percentage on the week.
 
CHITSEY WAS THE LONE STAR IN AWARDS
Lubbock Christian University senior Maddi Chitsey made Lone Star Conference history Wednesday, becoming the first Lone Star Conference player to ever receive the conference's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Academic Player of the Year honors in the same season. LCU's Allie Schulte joined Chitsey on the All-Academic team and was also a Second Team All-Conference selection. Lady Chap guards Caitlyn Cunyus (Second Team) and Ashton Duncan (Third Team) were also All-Conference selections.

Chitsey, a post player from Wall, Texas, became a three-time All-Conference selection (prior two were in the Heartland Conference). The returning D2CCA All-Region Selection leads LCU in scoring (13.6), ranking eighth in the LSC. She also ranks fourth in the LSC in field goal percentage (47.9%), sixth in blocks (52), seventh in blocks per game (1.8), defensive rebounds per game (4.7) and field goals made (145) and eighth in free-throw percentage (75.2%). Chitsey leads LCU with a per-game plus/minus rate of +16.86 (+17.5 in conference) and is part of a Lady Chaps defense that leads the nation holding opponents to a 32.1% shooting mark on the season. She becomes LCU's first recipient of the individual honors since joining the LSC. Chitsey is LCU's first honoree of the conference Player of the Year award since Tess Bruffey in 2018 and first Defensive Player of the Year award winner since Kellyn Schneider claimed the honor in 2016. Chitsey is the first LSC player to win the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season since Jasmine Prophet (Angelo State) in 2017.

Schulte, a junior from Nazareth, Texas, is a first-time All-Conference recipient. A 2019 All-Heartland Conference Tournament Team selection, Schulte is second on the squad in scoring (12.3 points) and assists (87, 3.0 per game). She leads the team in steals with 68, ranking second in the conference. Schulte also ranks seventh in the conference in field goals made (145). She was the first player in the LSC this season to receive Player of the Week honors on both the offensive and defensive side. Last season's national leader in three-point shooting percentage currently does not qualify with enough attempts, but is shooting .468 from long range (36/77). Earlier this season, Schulte claimed CoSIDA All-District honors.

Cunyus is one of two seniors on the squad and claims her second All-Conference award in her LCU career (2018 All-Heartland Conference). The Canyon, Texas native ranks fourth in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio (1.70), helping LCU rank 23rd nationally in the category. She also ranks eighth in the LSC in assists (90) and assists per game (3.1). Cunyus led LCU with a +18 plus/minus in conference play.

Duncan, a junior from Lubbock, Texas, claims her first All-Conference honor. The guard leads the LSC in three-point shooting percentage (42.4%, 23^rd nationally). Duncan had a string of three-pointers made in 28 consecutive games played and is third in the LSC with an average of 2.48 per game. She has 72 made three-pointers, which is fourth in the conference. Duncan claimed LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors in November.

LONE STAR DEBUT
The Lady Chaps are playing in their first season in the Lone Star Conference and went 19-3 this season in conference play. A pair of Lady Chaps averaged double figures in LSC play, led by Maddi Chitsey, who is averaged 13.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per conference game. Allie Schulte (12.4) also averaged in double figures in conference contests. LCU had the advantage in three-point field goals (171-108), steals (175-145) and blocks (107-63) in LSC games. The Lady Chaps had a scoring margin per-game of 19.1 and held opponents to a 32.0% shooting mark in those contests.

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 27th 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.

LET'S BE RATIO-NALE
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 23^rd nationally. LCU's individual leader is Caitlyn Cunyus, who ranks fourth in the LSC with a 1.70 ratio (ranks 66th nationally).

NOBODY IS HOME
LCU went 15-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center and completed their home slate with a 13-0 mark this season to extend 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)
55 - Baylor (Division I)
54 - Drury (Division II)
36 - Iowa (Division I)

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 rank 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 11th toughest schedule of games played in NCAA Division II play. LCU's opponents have combined for a .568 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-seeded team in the LSC Championship, Texas A&M - Commerce's strength of schedule ranks 266th nationally (West Texas A&M is 113).

BLOCK PARTIES ARE BACK
LCU ranks 14th nationally in blocks (142) and 14th in blocks per game (4.9). Maddi Chitsey leads the team with 51 blocks (sixth in the conference and 34^th nationally), at a pace of 1.8 per game (seventh in the conference and 41^st 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 19^th nationally) at 78.1%. 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 75.2% shooting mark from the line (Caitlyn Cunyus, 48/54 - 88.9% and Madelyn Turner, 37/41 - 90.1% 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 29 contests, LCU has held the opponent to under a 30% shooting mark 12 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. On Feb. 22 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 53.4 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 third South Central Regional Rankings of the season Wednesday and the Lady Chaps are ranked atop the regional standings. The No.1 seed in the final rankings released after the conference tournaments (Sunday night) 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. Lubbock Christian
2. West Texas A&M
3. Texas A&M-Commerce
4. Colorado Mesa
5. Western Colorado University
6. Westminster (Utah)
7. Angelo State
8. Tarleton State
9. Eastern New Mexico
10. St. Edward's

FIVE THINGS ABOUT WT
1 > The Lady Buffs went 29-4 last season and shared the LSC Regular Season Championship honors with Angelo State University. They ended up hosting the opening two rounds of the South Central Region Tournament, where they fell to Angelo State (led to LCU hosting the region championship game).
2 > WT was preseason picked second in the LSC Preseason Poll. They are 27-5 overall this season and went 19-3 conference record (won their division with a 9-1 divisional record). The Lady Buffs are also 2-2 in neutral site contests this season.
3 > The Lady Buffs enter the week allowing an average of 49.9 points per game this season, which leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks fourth in all of Division II Women's Basketball. WT allowed a season-low 26 points to Adams State on Nov. 29th, marking the sixth lowest opponent point total in program history. WT has also held an opponent scoreless in a quarter on two different occasions this season.
4 > WT has a rebound margin of 11.3 per game, which is fourth nationally. They have out-rebounded their opponent in 30 of their 32 games this season.
5 > Abby Spurgin (85, sixth nationally) and Tiana Parker (69, 11^th nationally) are the top-two players in the LSC in blocks. The Lady Buffs lead the nation with 197 blocks (third in blocks per game with 6.2).

THE SERIES AGAINST WTAMU
LCU and WT are separated by 110 miles, but the two teams have only met five prior times (this season is the first season they have faced each other multiple times). The first ever meeting was on Nov. 16, 2001, with WT defeating LCU 90-53 in Canyon, Texas (LCU's 2001-02 season opener). They have met two other times in postseason play (both were in Lubbock and in the  South Central Region Championship Game), which came in 2016 (LCU winning 88-68) and 2018 (LCU winning 56-53). The two teams split the regular season series this season, with the home team winning each game.

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

Allie Schulte 3GP 11.3 pts/g, 2.7 steals per game
Madelyn Turner 2GP 9.5 pts/g,
Maddi Chitsey 3GP 9.0 pts/g,

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. WTAMU
Feb. 6, 2020 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU:67 - WT:43
No.9 Lubbock Christian University used a 16-1 first-half run to surge past No.10 West Texas A&M 67-43, ending the Lady Buffs 12-game win streak. LCU was led by Allie Schulte, who had 17 points and matched a career-high with five steals in the Lone Star Conference division contest inside Rip Griffin Center.

There were four lead changes in the opening frame before LCU started their 16-1 scoring run. Leading 12-10 with 2:52 remaining in the quarter, Maddie Chitsey and Laynee Burr each had a field goal before the quarter was closed with free-throws from Madelyn Turner to give LCU n 18-10 lead heading into the second quarter. It turned into a 10-0 run with Cunyus and Schulte each scoring to open the second quarter scoring (pushed the lead to 22-10). Ashton Duncan capped the run with back-to-back three-pointers for a 28-11 advantage with 6:39 left in the half. Duncan (six points) and Cunyus combined for 10 points in the quarter, as LCU led 36-18 at the half behind 57.7% (15/26) shooting in the half.

The Lady Buffs had the first two points of the second half off a pair of free-throws, but LCU responded with a 7-0 run highlighted by another three-pointer from Duncan to give LCU a 43-20 advantage with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. LCU went over four minutes without a field goal and WT did storm back on an 11-3 run to end the quarter, cutting LCU's lead to 48-33 at the close of the quarter.

Any thoughts of a Lady Buffs comeback were extinguished in the fourth quarter, as LCU went on an 11-2 run to start the quarter and led 59-35 with 5:33 left. Cunyus had the final six points of the run. Her and Schulte each had six points in the quarter, as LCU shot 7-of-10 from the field (70%) in the quarter.

WT was held to a season-low 43 points. It is the fewest points WT has scored since Washburn held them to 36 on Mar. 9, 2012. The Lady Buffs, 37.8% (17/45) from the field, received 18 points from Abby Spurgin. She had eight of WT's 17 field goals. Braylyn Dollar also finished with 11 points.

LCU won despite 23 rebounds. Their lowest rebound mark since 22 on Mar. 4, 2011 (against Southern Nazarene) and their lowest total in a win since 22 on Feb. 24, 2011 (against John Brown). The Lady Chaps were 52.9% (27/51) from the field. Schulte was 8-of-12 and also finished with four assists and had half of LCU's 10 steals in the game. Cunyus (plus/minus of +26) finished with 14 points and Duncan (plus/minus of +27) posted 12 points off four three-pointers. Of LCU's 23 rebounds, four were offensive and they scored second-chance points off each of the offensive boards (8 points). LCU committed two turnovers in the opening half and finished with nine, while forcing 18, which led to a 24-8 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers.