MIDWESTERN STATE (7-2, 6-2, 1-1) at No.2 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (8-0, 8-0, 2-0) January 27, 2021 • 5:30 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) TICKETS: Click Here (Online Advanced Purchase Only for Non-Chap Pass Season Pass Holders) 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: Chris Due (Play-By-Play), LCU Social Media:
	MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS (7-2, 6-2, 1-1) Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Christopher Reay (Midwestern State, 2008) Roster | Stats | Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (8-0, 8-0, 2-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

BACK TO DIVISIONAL PLAY
No.2 Lubbock Christian University returns to West Division play in the Lone Star Conference Wednesday with the first game of a divisional home-and-home series against Midwestern State. Wednesday's game tips off in Lubbock (5:30 p.m.) and then the teams will head to Wichita Falls, Texas to complete the week's set Saturday (3:30 p.m.) inside Ligon Coliseum. LCU, the only unbeaten team in the South Central Division, leads the West Division with a 2-0 mark. Midwestern State is 1-1 in the division.

DUST-UP
LCU is coming off a two-game home sweep of Texas A&M International. TAMIU rallied back from a 29-point deficit in the first game, falling 71-61 to the Lady Chaps. They expected to have momentum Saturday, but the Lady Chaps forced 29 turnovers and had a 40-6 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers in an 85-42 LCU win. Ashton Duncan led LCU in the two games, averaging 13.5 points a game and all 32 points tallied came from beyond the arc.   

RECOGNIZED
The Lone Star Conference announced their weekly honors and LCU's Juliana Robertson was this week's Defensive Player of the Week recipient in women's basketball.

Robertson led LCU defensively to a pair of wins over Texas A&M International, which ended TAMIU's seven-game win streak and extended LCU's home win streak to 83 straight games (71 straight conference wins). The Kerrville, Texas native, who averaged a +24.5-per-game plus/minus, opened the weekend series with 11 rebounds Friday and followed Saturday with a +30 in 22 minutes of action. Her weekly totals included 9.5 points (per game), 7.5 rebounds (per game), six assists, three steals and a block, while shooting 66.7% from the field.

The honor is the second "defensive" weekly honor in Robertson's career and the first of this season. The senior forward is the third Lady Chaps member to receive weekly honors (first defensive), as she joins Ashton Duncan and Allie Schulte.

STEALING THE SHOW
LCU enters the week ranked 32^nd in NCAA Division II in steals (92) and is 20^th in steals per game (11.5). The Lady Chaps have had at least 10 steals in six of their last seven games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (23) and averages 2.9 per game to rank third in the LSC (21^st nationally.
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
With the 17 three-pointers in their two-game set with TAMIU, LCU has 87 three-pointers (16^th nationally) in their eight games played (10.9 average per game). They have had at least 10 three-pointers in four of their eight games played. The Lady Chaps success rate of 42.4% shooting from outside is fourth nationally, and their pace of 10.9 three-pointers per game is also sixth nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 28 three-pointers (15^th nationally and is second in the LSC), ranking eighth nationally with a conference-best rate of 3.5 per game. Schulte ranks second nationally and leads the conference with a shooting percentage of 63.3%, and Duncan ranks second in the conference at 46.7%. Eleven (11) different Lady Chaps have at least one three-pointer on the season.

ALLIE CAT
The sharp shooting of Allie Schulte is registering nationally. Schulte leads the LSC and ranks second nationally in field goal percentage with a mark of 69.4%. From long range, she ranks second nationally with a conference-best rate of 63.3%. In eight games this season, she has two-or-less missed shots in six of the games. She has not shot less than 60% in a game this season.

THROWING STONES
A look at upcoming milestones on the horizon for Lady Chap members:
-Allie Schulte needs 16 points to reach 1000 career points.
-She ranks second nationally in Division II active players in career games played with 108.
-Is 31 assists away from 300 career assists.
-Actively ranks 27^th in career assists with 269 assists.
-Ashton Duncan needs five three-pointers to reach 150 career three-pointers.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
The third in-season D2SIDA poll was released this week, with LCU remaining at No.2. The WBCA Top-25 Poll is scheduled to begin this month, but they have not conducted any polls to this point (they did not conduct a preseason poll). LCU's men's basketball program is also nationally ranked, marking the first time both LCU's basketball programs are nationally ranked since Feb. 7, 2007.
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 13-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. They enter Friday's play 5-0 this season at home and with their active home win streak sitting at 83 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 71 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 (they are 18-0 in LSC 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
83 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
81 – LCU (Division II)
58 – Drury (Division II)
31 – North Georgia (Division II)
30 – Messiah (Division III)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
Ashton Duncan leads LCU at home this season, averaging 15.0 points per game. Allie Schulte also averages double figures at home, with an average of 12.8 points per home contest. LCU has a 28-4 advantage in blocks at home and they have held opponents to 34.9% shooting. The Lady Chaps are shooting 48.9% on the Rip Griffin Center floor this season, with a 47.7% shooting mark from outside. LCU, averaging 11.0 three-point field goals per home game, have Duncan shooting 62.2% from outside at home. She is 23-of-37 at home this season from outside.
 
BLOCKS ARE BACK
Since their first season as official NCAA Division II members (2015-16), LCU has ranked at least 12^th or better in total blocks (led the nation in 15-16 and ranked second in 17-18) in each season of play and have ranked in the top-14 in four of the five seasons in blocks per game (led the nation in 15-16 and 16-17). This season, LCU looks as if they may keep the trend continuing. They currently rank 11th in blocks (45) and are ninth in blocks per game (5.6), leading the LSC in the per-game category. Emma Middleton (15, third in the conference and 25^th nationally), Whitney Cox (12, fourth in the LSC) and Juliana Robertson (8, 10^th in the conference) place LCU with three players in the top-10 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also ranks second in the LSC and 25^th nationally with 1.88 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.35, LCU ranks eighth in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 17.8 assists per game ranks 12th in the nation, with team leader Juliana Robertson averaging 3.9 per game to rank fourth in the conference. Allie Schulte is not far behind, ranking eighth in the conference with a mark of 3.6 per game. Madelyn Turner (2.0) is also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 21^st nationally in turnovers per game (leads the LSC) with a mark of 13.1 per game (they rank 17^th in turnovers forced and seventh in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 20^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 47.1 points per game (third in the nation). From the floor, opponents are shooting 33.3% (17th nationally).
 
UNBLEMISHED
LCU is the only program in the South Central Region without a loss and they are one of 14 programs nationally in Division II that are active and have not lost.
 
GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS?
The Lady Chaps and Midwestern State are meeting on a Wednesday, which is not a normal playing day for the Lady Chaps. LCU has not played on a Wednesday since knocking off No.1 Drury at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament in Columbus, Ohio on Mar. 27, 2019.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT MSU
1 > The Mustangs are coming off a 11-16 season in 2019-20, finishing 9-13 in the Lone Star Conference and 6-4 in the division (finished tied for second in their division). They went 3-9 in road contests.
2 > MSU rides a five-game win streak into the Hub City to open the home-and-home series. They are 4-0 at home and 3-2 in road games.
3 > Midwestern State was preseason picked ninth in the LSC Preseason Poll. They are in the West Division, which also includes Angelo State, Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M.
4 > Like the Lady Chaps, Midwestern State has success defensively inside. MSU has 4.2 blocks per game (fourth in the conference) and they have 38 blocks, which ranks 17^th nationally.
5 > Frances King ranks second in the LSC in assists per game (4.2) and is 45^th nationally in the category.

THE SERIES AGAINST MSU
The Mustangs command the all-time series with a 21-9 series record over LCU, which included 11 consecutive wins until LCU winning the prior three meetings. Each school has conflicting all-time records for the history of the two programs, as there were some MSU forfeitures in the mix, which enters into the confusion. LCU is 1-14 all-time in Wichita Falls against MSU, winning 67-54 in their prior visit (Dec. 21, 2019). The Lady Chaps are 6-7 all-time in Lubbock against MSU. They have only met once in Lubbock since 1994 (Dec. 3, 2015, which LCU won 92-71). The two programs have only met four times since Steve Gomez tenure as head coach of the Lady Chaps (he is 3-1 against MSU).

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

Ashton Duncan 1gp – 16.0 pts/g, 3/9 3-pt fg, 2 steals
Emma Middleton 1gp – 15.0 pts/g, 6/7 fg, 7.0 rebounds
Madelyn Turner 1gp – 5.0 pts/g, 2/4 fg

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. MSU
Dec. 21, 2019 (Wichita Falls, Texas) - MSU:49 - LCU:67
It took a medley of career-high performances by the Lady Chaparrals and a 23-6 second-half scoring surge for No.1 LCU to get their first-ever win over Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, as Ashton Duncan and Maddi Chitsey each posted 16 points and Emma Middleton contributed a career-high 15 points to help lead LCU to a 67-49 Lone Star Conference victory. LCU had been 0-14 all-time in Ligon Coliseum against MSU prior to the game.
 
A 9-2 start to the second half for MSU had the Mustangs up 34-25 with 6:30 left in the third quarter. MSU led 44-38 with 3:15 remaining in the quarter, and that is when LCU began their comeback march. Middleton, who also had a career-high seven rebounds to go with her 15 points, went on a personal 5-0 run over a 28-second span to help LCU close the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 45-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Chitsey made it a 9-0 run with a jumper 1:13 into the fourth quarter. MSU ended the run 22 seconds later with a three-point play by Erin Alexander to tie the contest up at 47-47. Ashton Duncan took over with the first eight points of a 10-0 LCU run and LCU led 57-47 at the halfway point of the fourth quarter. The series of runs combined for a 23-6 scoring advantage by LCU and they led as much as 67-51 before claiming the 67-49 win.
 
Middleton had all 15 of her points in the second half, with 11 tallied in the third quarter. Duncan scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter.
 
It was a struggle for LCU in the opening quarter of play. Chitsey hit LCU's opening field goal attempt, but then the Lady Chaps followed by missing their next nine field goal attempts. A pair of free-throws by Kityana Diaz put the Mustangs up 10-2 with 2:35 left in the quarter. LCU would force MSU into 11 straight field goal misses and trailed 10-6 after the opening quarter. During the span of misses, LCU would go on a 6-0 run and later a 13-0 run highlighted by three-pointers from Chitsey, Ashton Duncan and Caitlyn Cunyus for a 21-16 LCU lead. The Mustangs responded with a 7-0 run and would take a 25-23 halftime lead over the Lady Chaps.
 
Numerous career marks were set in the contest by LCU. Chitsey, who co-led LCU in scoring, matched a career high in blocks with six, as LCU had 10 as a team. Middleton was 6-of-7 from the field, posting career-high marks in points (15) and rebounds (7). Caitlyn Cunyus fouled out, coming several marks shy of a triple-double. She posted eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high nine assists.
 
LCU used a 64.3% (9-of-14) shooting mark in the fourth quarter to finish the game 42.6% from the field. They were 21-of-41 (51.2%) inside the arc and outscored MSU 40-24 in scoring in the paint.
 
The Mustangs (4-4, 2-2) received a double-double in the loss from Elizabeth Cathcart, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds. They received a game-high 19 points from Hannah Reynolds. MSU, who went more than eight minutes in the fourth quarter without a field goal, shot 30.2% from the field (19/63). They were 2-of-14 (14.3%) from long distance.
 
KEEP IN MIND
The Lone Star Conference announced it will use a point rating system to determine its men's and women's basketball standings this year due to COVID-19 related schedule adjustments.
 
The point rating system will replace winning percentage for the LSC's basketball conference standings, divisional standings and conference tournament seeding in 2020-21. 
 
The system assigns a numerical value to game results depending on the site and quality of the opponent. Teams will earn more points for a win on the road or at home against top competition based on conference winning percentage and receive fewer points for a win against lesser opposition. Points are also dispersed for losses, with more points awarded for a loss against stronger competition. 
 
Each week, the team ratings will be determined by taking the total points divided by league games played with the opponents winning percentage updated throughout the year.

The LSC has the point system in use for public viewing on the standings page located on the LSC's website.
 
The change will help offset an unbalanced league schedule and games canceled due to COVID-19.  Typically, the LSC slate includes games against all other league teams but this year is using a modified "bubble" schedule format to enhance student-athlete safety with regard to COVID-19 and reduce the amount of contact amongst teams by playing the same opponent twice during the week.
 
The conference tournament will consist of the top eight men's and women's teams with first-round games on-campus on Tuesday, March 2 followed by the four winning teams advancing to the final site at the highest remaining seed on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6.
 
LSC POINT RATING SYSTEM
Points shall be awarded for each conference contest played:
7 points – win over a .750 or better team on the road
6.5 points – win over a .750 or better team at home
6 points – win over a .500 or better team on the road
5 points – win over a .500 or better team at home
4.5 points – win over a .250 or better team on the road
4 points – win over a .250 team or better at home
3.5 points – win over an under .250 team on the road
3 points – win over an under .250 team at home
2.5 points – loss at home or on the road to a .750 or better team
2 points – loss to a .500 or better team at home or on the road
1 point – loss to a .250 or better team at home or on the road
.5 points – loss to an under .250 team on the road
0 points – loss to an under .250 team at home
 
COVID AND VIEWING OPTIONS
COVID-19 regulations by LCU will have the Rip Griffin Center at 50% capacity. All home game ticket and spectator policies are subject to change on a game-by-game basis. For games allowing fans, a limited number of tickets are available (admission covers both men's and women's games on that date) to the general public on www.lcuchaps.com/tickets.
 
Each game will be broadcast on the LSC Digital Network as an option for fans unable to attend. The Lone Star Conference have a new hybrid pricing model for the LSC Digital Network this season. The broadcasts of volleyball and men's and women's basketball games will be available via pay-per-view (PPV) conference-wide under the new model. Fans can purchase a $10 daily pass that will give them access to all LSC football, volleyball and basketball contests on the network that day, as well as access to previously aired games from the current season for 24 hours. In addition to live and archived streaming options, viewers will have the option to purchase and download games from the 2020-21 season for $10 each. Select games of all other sports carried on the LSC Digital Network will be available free-to-view (FTV) or PPV at the discretion of the broadcasting institution. The LSC Digital Network is in its second year showcasing the academic and athletic events of the league and its 18 member institutions. Fans can watch games and purchase passes online at  www.lonestarconferencenetwork.com or www.lcuchaps.com/live on computer and mobile devices. Viewers can also tune in to games on the LSC Digital Network via OTT apps available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku by searching for "LSC Digital Network."