CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
No.6 Lubbock Christian University and No.7 Texas A&M-Commerce are the final two teams standing in the Lone Star Conference Championship, and they will battle for the conference title Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Comerica Center. Along with the conference title, an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament is on the line, and the winner may unofficially jockey their squad into position to serve as host to the regional tournament (a committee will meet to decide that later Sunday). As far as LSC titles, TAMUC is seeking their second title all-time and their first since 2007, while first-year LSC members Lubbock Christian is aiming for their first LSC title ever. LCU arrived to Sunday's game after tournament wins over Angelo State and No.17 West Texas A&M, while A&M-Commerce guided past St. Mary's and Eastern New Mexico.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat TAMUC, they will improve to 28-3 on the season and will claim their fourth postseason conference tournament win in the last five years (all years they have been postseason eligible in NCAA Division II). LCU spent the past four seasons in the Heartland Conference, and they played in the conference tournament title game in all four seasons. They won the Heartland Conference tournament championship in 2016, 2017 and 2019 (all in Tulsa, Okla.).  

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Lions, their record will drop to 27-4, 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.
 
RIVALRY ON THE RANGE… BURBS-STYLE
Saturday, LCU led by at least 10 points over the game's final 19:16 and claimed a 59-46 win over No.17 West Texas A&M in the LSC Championship Semifinals. LCU was able to advance past the semis because of their play of their guards. Allie Schulte (14 points), Caitlin Cunyus (13 points), Ashton Duncan (nine points) and Laynee Burr (nine points) were LCU's leading scorers and all are guards. LCU's inside success was measured in rebounds, with Emma Middleton collecting a game-high nine rebounds. The Lady Chaps had to overcome a 15-9 disadvantage in fouls, but WT did not take benefit off the free-throw line in the game (8/14, 57.1%). Meanwhile, LCU was 9-of-10 (90%) from the line in the game when they had their chances for free points. WT, forced into 17 turnovers, shot 32.7% (16/49) from the field. Delaney Nix hit four three-pointers and led WT with 14 points. Abby Spurgin also poured in 12 points.
 
FLASHY IN FRISCO
Through two games inside Comerica Center, LCU is shooting 50.5% from the field, with a brow-raising 48.9% shooting success rate from three-point range (23/47). Caitlyn Cunyus leads LCU in the tournament, averaging 14.5 points per game. She is 5-of-7 from three-point range. Allie Schulte (11.5 points) and Ashton Duncan (10.0 points) are also averaging double figures offensively. Duncan is a solid 6-of-8 from long range. Emma Middleton has added balance in the paint, averaging 7.5 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. On the defensive side, LCU is holding opponents to a 35% shooting mark from the field and they are averaging 8.5 steals per contest.

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 (13.4), ranking eighth in the LSC. She also ranks fourth in the LSC in field goal percentage (47.0%), sixth in blocks (54), sixth in blocks per game (1.8) and field goals made (147), eighth in free-throw percentage (76.1%) and 11^th in defensive rebounds per game (4.6). Chitsey ranks second on the LCU squad with a per-game plus/minus rate of +16.73 (+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 (12.4 points) and assists (89, 3.0 per game). She leads the team in steals with 69, ranking second in the conference. Schulte also ranks 10th 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 .464 from long range (39/84). 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 (42.9%, 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 75 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 75 three-pointers this season (fourth in the LSC). Duncan leads the LSC shooting 42.9% from long range (ranks 23^rd nationally) and ranks third in the LSC with 2.5 three-pointers per game. She has made at least three three-pointers in 16 games this season and made at least one three-pointer in her first 28 games played this season.

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 3-2 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 78.4%. 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 76.1% shooting mark from the line (Caitlyn Cunyus, 51/58 - 87.9% 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 30 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 53.2 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 TAMUC
1 > The Lions completed last season with a 20-11 record and finished tied for third place in the Lone Star Conference (14-6). They had their season end with a regional quarterfinal loss to Colorado Mesa at the NCAA South Central Region Tournament in Grand Junction, Colo.
2 > TAMUC WAS preseason picked fourth in the LSC Preseason Poll this season.  They are 28-2 overall this season and they are the No.1-seed in the tournament after a 20-2 conference record. They seek to improve on a 3-0 mark this season in neutral court contests.
3 > Freshman Dyani Robinson claimed the LSC Freshman of the Year honor, becoming the fifth student-athlete in program history to be named LSC Freshman of the Year and the third under head coach Jason Burton
4 > TAMUC averages 16.9 points per game from the free-throw line, leading the LSC and ranking fifth nationally with 509 points from the line this season.
5 > First Team All-LSC selection Alexis Bryant averages 7.7 rebounds per game, with a pace of 3.2 on the offensive end, which is fourth in the conference.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST TAMUC
TAMUC edges LCU with a 3-2 all-time record in the series. The Lions ended a sequence of two straight LCU wins with a 59-54 win over LCU on Jan. 30 in Commerce. LCU had won the prior two meetings (prior to this season), winning 67-42 last season (Nov. 12, 2018) in Lubbock and 74-39 in Commerce, Texas (Nov. 13, 2017). The first-ever meeting was on Jan. 29, 1982 when TAMUC was known as East Texas State, who defeated Lubbock Christian 73-66 in a neutral site contest in Stephenville, Texas.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. TAMUC
Here is a look at LCU's top three active leaders career vs. TAMUC:
 
Maddi Chitsey 3GP 10.0 pts/g, 6.7 reb.
Allie Schulte 3GP 14.0 pts/g, 8/13 3pt-FG
Caitlyn Cunyus 2GP 8.0 pts/g, 2/4 3pt-FG
 
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. TAMUC
Jan. 30, 2020 (Commerce, Texas) – TAMUC: 59 - LCU:54
At the end of the day, an 18-point deficit was too much to overcome for No.8 Lubbock Christian University. Allie Schulte posted a career-high five three-pointers and LCU turned an 18-point deficit into a one-point game in the final minute before eventually falling 59-54 to No.3 Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday night inside A&M-Commerce Field House.

Using a 10-0 run and a late three-pointer by Dyani Robinson in the second quarter, the Lions took a 39-21 lead into the halftime break. LCU, facing their largest deficit since Nov. 24, 2017 (vs. Ashland), found a way to come back.

Overall, LCU held A&M-Commerce to four field goals the entire second half. They were held to one in the third quarter, as LCU outscored TAMUC 24-10 in the third quarter. LCU hit a string of seven consecutive field goals, with five straight makes opening the second half. Schulte connected on three three-pointers inside the opening three minutes of the quarter, and Ashton Duncan added one as well to open the quarter on a 14-5 run. LCU even had a span in which they missed six straight field goal attempts before regrouping to close the quarter on a 10-0 run to cut their deficit to 49-45. Maddi Chitsey had eight of the 10 points during the run.

Neither team shot well in the fourth quarter. LCU was 3-of-12 (25%) from the field in the quarter and TAMUC was 3-of-13 (23.1%). The Lions had a span of 10 missed shots, which lasted during a seven-minute span. Chitsey made a pair of free-throws with 5:19 remaining to put LCU back 54-52. LCU was able to get stops defensively and countered with opportunities, but four missed shot attempts and a turnover helped the Lions hold the lead. Emma Middleton scored a bucket with 35 seconds left to cut the deficit to 55-54. It would be as close as they would get, as LCU missed their final three shot attempts inside the final 17 seconds and fell.

Three of the five all-time meetings between LCU and TAMUC have come over the prior three seasons, and TAMUC has never shot over 30% against LCU. The Lions, who were held to a 21.7% shooting mark the last time the two teams met in Commerce (Nov. 13, 2017), finished Thursday's game shooting 29.9% from the field (20/67). It was the worst shooting performance by an LCU opponent in an LCU loss since St. Mary's defeated LCU Dec. 31, 2016 behind a 27% shooting mark.

A&M-Commerce's high-points came in the opening half. Schulte provided LCU a 12-7 lead less than seven minutes into the game with a three-pointer, but then it went downhill in a hurry for LCU. TAMUC responded with a 17-0 run and led 24-12 35 seconds into the second quarter.

LCU was plagued by the turnover battle. The Lions forced LCU in 17 turnovers, while committing seven. The mark was the highest margin between opponents (in which LCU had the highest turnover total) since they produced 22 turnovers and forced 11 at Newman (Feb. 21, 2019). The turnovers led to a 17-5 scoring advantage for TAMUC in points-off-turnovers.

The late shooting struggles while carrying the momentum had LCU finish 39.1% (18/46) from the field. They were out-rebounded 42-33 in the game, but Chitsey led all players with 11 rebounds to complete her second double-double of the season (14 points, 11 rebounds). Both double-doubles for Chitsey have come in losses this season.

Schulte finished the game with a career high in three-pointers (five) and was 5-of-6 from long range. She also matched a career high in blocks (two). The junior led LCU in scoring with 19 points in the contest.

Chania Wright led all Lions with 12 points. The Lions notched seven three-pointers in the game, with five produced in the first half.