TOP TEAMS MEETING
No.3 Lubbock Christian University and No.9 Texas A&M-Commerce are the only unbeaten teams in the Lone Star Conference and in the South Central Region. It will change this weekend, as the two teams (each are 4-0) meet Friday and Saturday inside Rip Griffin Center (both games tip at 3:30 p.m.). The two team's prior encounter was in Frisco, Texas last March in the Lone Star Conference Championships title game, which LCU won. Both teams were scheduled to head to Lubbock for the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, which was canceled the day prior to the tournament due to COVID-19.

UNPATRIOTIC
LCU completed their first road trip of the season last weekend, claiming a 73-26 and 69-48 win in Tyler, Texas over UT Tyler. LCU's defense held the Patriots to 28.1% shooting from the field in the two games, with a mark under 18% in Saturday's 47-point victory. Offensively, LCU was led by Allie Schulte (17.5 points per game), who was one of seven players that averaged at least 5.0 points per game in the series.  

NICE SHOOTING TEX
Allie Schulte led LCU with a balanced effort on both ends of the floor at UTT. She led LCU averaging 17.5 points per game, completing the task in an average of 21 minutes on the floor in LCU's pair of decisive victories. The senior guard had 15 points in a 47-point victory (73-26) on Saturday, and followed with 20 points in a 69-48 win, as she combined to go 12-of-16 (.750) from the floor and 8-of-11 (.727) from long-range. LCU opened each game on an 11-0 run, and Saturday, Schulte had three three-pointers in the run to jumpstart a career-high effort of six three-pointers. She was 6-of-7 from long range in the performance. Defensively, Schulte led LCU with 6.0 rebounds per game and also combined for two blocks and three steals. She was a +49 in plus/minus on the week (+31 Saturday), and part of a defensive unit that held UTT to 28.1% shooting on the weekend.

STEALING THE SHOW
LCU enters the week ranked 35^th in NCAA Division II in steals (48) and is 10^th in steals per game (12.0). The Lady Chaps had 17 steals Sunday at UTT, for their highest total since 17 on January 10, 2019, and it placed LCU with at least 10 steals in three consecutive games for the first time since February of 2019. If LCU can extend it to four consecutive games, it would be the first time LCU has completed the task since they had six straight games of at least 10 steals in February of 2016.
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU was 12-of-35 in the game from three-point range (34.3%) in Sunday's win in Tyler. Schulte was 6-of-7 from three-point range, while the rest of the team combined to go 6-of-28 (21.4%). The 35 three-point attempts was LCU's highest mark since Mar. 11, 2016 (37 attempts vs. Angelo State). LCU ranks 23^rd nationally with a conference-leading 47 three-pointers, ranking second nationally with 11.8 per game. The Lady Chaps success rate of 41.2% shooting from outside is eighth nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 14 three-pointers (30^th nationally and leads the LSC), ranking seventh nationally with a conference-best rate of 3.5 per game. Schulte ranks seventh nationally and second in the conference with a shooting percentage of 69.2%, and Duncan ranks sixth in the conference at 42.4%. Eleven (11) different Lady Chaps have at least one three-pointer on the season.

2020 IS IN THE BOOKS
The 2020 calendar year was a good one for the Lady Chaps (pushing COVID-19 matters aside). In the year LCU claimed their first LSC Championship title, the Lady Chaps went 19-3 (86.4%) in games played during the 2020 calendar year. LCU had a 22-1 (95.7%) record for all games played in 2020, and they went 29-5 (85.3%) in 2019, 26-5 (83.9%) in 2017, 29-10 (74.4%) in 2016 and 24-4 (85.7%) in 2015.

THROWING STONES
A look at upcoming milestones on the horizon for Lady Chap members:
-Allie Schulte needs 74 points to reach 1000 career points.
-She ranks third nationally in Division II active players in career games played with 104.
-Ashton Duncan needs a point to reach 500 career points.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
Only one of the two national associations conducting national top-25 preseason polls for NCAA Division II women's basketball conducted a preseason poll this season. D2SIDA conducted a preseason poll, and has Lubbock Christian University as the Preseason No.3 ranked program entering the 2020-2021 season. The WBCA Top-25 Poll is scheduled to begin this month.
 
LCU has found their way into the D2SIDA preseason poll seven consecutive seasons, marking every season they have been eligible to appear (due to the transfer from NAIA to NCAA Div. II), ranking No.1 (2019-20), No.3 (2018-19), No.23 (2017-18), No. 4 (2016-17), No.15 (2015-16) and receiving votes in 2014-15. The Lady Chaps received one of the 16 first-place votes, and was the only school other that preseason favorite, Drury, to receive a first-place vote.
 
The D2SIDA polls are voted on by a committee of sports information directors at Division II member institutions nationwide. LCU, the preseason Lone Star Conference favorites, was the top team slated in the South Central Region D2SIDA Top-10 rankings, and the only program nationally to receive all six first-place votes from within their own region.
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 13-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. They enter Friday's play with their active home win streak sitting at 80 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 68 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 15-0 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
80 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
 
NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
80 – LCU (Division II)
61 – Baylor (Division I)
58 – Drury (Division II)
42 – Iowa (Division I)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
Ashton Duncan leads LCU at home this season, averaging 17 points per game. Allie Schulte also averages double figures at home, with an average of 13.0 points per home contest. LCU has a 13-1 advantage in blocks at home and they have held opponents to 31.7% shooting. The Lady Chaps are shooting 51.3% on the Rip Griffin Center floor this season, with a 48% shooting mark 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 eight in blocks (26) and are fourth in blocks per game (6.5), leading the LSC in each category. Emma Middleton (7, second in the conference and 30^th nationally), Whitney Cox and Juliana Robertson (6, tied for sixth in the conference) place LCU with three players in the top-10 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also ranks third in the LSC and 23^rd nationally with 1.75 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.46, LCU ranks fourth in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 21.5 assists per game is second in the nation, with team leader Juliana Robertson averaging 4.2 per game to rank 45^th nationally and third in the conference. Allie Schulte is not far behind, ranking fifth in the conference with a mark of 3.8 per game. Channing Cunyus (2.3) and Ashton Duncan (2.2) are also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 35^th nationally in turnovers per game with a mark of 14.8 per game (they rank 18^th in turnovers forced and eighth in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 10^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 43.2 points per game (ranks third nationally). From the floor, opponents are shooting 30.0% (fifth nationally) and 28% from three-point range (37^th nationally).  

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 will publish the point rating system rankings in mid-January and post weekly updates for the rest of the season. 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."

FIVE THINGS ABOUT TAMUC
1 > The Lions are coming off a 28-3 season in 2019-20, finishing 20-2 in the Lone Star Conference to claim the top-seed at the LSC Championships in Frisco. They are 4-0 on the season (and in conference) after sweeping St. Edward's and St. Mary's.
2 > TAMUC is preseason picked third in the LSC Preseason Poll. This season, they are in the North Division, which has Arkansas – Ft. Smith, Cameron, Oklahoma Christian and Texas Woman's joining TAMUC.
3 > A&M-Commerce leads the LSC and ranks second in the nation in steals per game, with an average of 14.8 per contest. Chania Wright leads the squad with an average of 2.5 per game.
4 > DesiRay Kernal ranks 40^th nationally in free-throw percentage. She is 19-of-21 on the season (90.5%) with an average of 4.75 points per game from the line.
5 > Dyani Robinson, who missed the St. Mary's series last weekend, leads the team averaging 21 points per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST TAMUC
TAMUC and LCU are each 3-3 in the all-time series. The Lions ended a sequence of two straight LCU wins with a 59-54 win over LCU on Jan. 30, 2020 in Commerce, Texas, during the only regular season meeting last season, but LCU revenged the loss in the LSC Championships title game 57-44 Mar. 8, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. LCU defeated TAMUC 67-42 in the only prior meeting between the two teams in Lubbock (Nov. 12, 2018). 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:

Allie Schulte 4gp – 13.0 pts/g, 10/17 3-pt fg%, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals
Emma Middleton 4gp – 5.5 pts/g, 1.3 blocks
Ashton Duncan 4gp – 4.5 pts/g, 6/16 3-pt fg, 1.0 steals

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. TAMUC
Mar. 8, 2020 (Frisco, Texas) - TAMUC:57 - LCU:44
No.6 LCU held the Lone Star Conference's top-offensive scoring team, No.7 Texas A&M-Commerce to a season-low 44 points and claimed their first Lone Star Conference Championship in program history with a 57-44 win over the Lions in the championship game of the conference championships inside Comerica Center.

LCU, who fell behind by 18 points in the first half of a 59-54 loss at A&M-Commerce on Jan. 30, turned the tables on the Lions in the opening half in this game. The Lady Chaps opened the game on a 12-3 run as TAMUC missed their opening eight shot attempts. Alexsis Bryant was the only Lions player having any offensive success in the opening quarter. She had seven of the team's nine points in the opening quarter, as LCU led 14-9 at the close of the quarter.

The Lady Chaps had the final field goal of the quarter, and followed by opening the second quarter with the first 13 points of the frame for a 15-0 run. Ashton Duncan connected on a pair of three-pointers in the scoring binge, which put LCU up by 18 points (29-11 with 5:31 left in the second quarter).

The Lions, who did not receive their first field goal of the game until 3:32 remained in the first quarter, went the opening 3:46 of the second quarter without a field goal. TAMUC were 3-of-20 (15.0%) from the field before making their first field goal of the quarter. They did have brief offensive success in the game, making four straight field goal attempts inside of four minutes in the first half. It came during a span in which TAMUC was 7-of-9 from the field. The final shot of the sequence cut LCU's lead to 34-26 with 7:39 left in the third quarter. TAMUC opened the half on an 8-0 run and took advantage of 10 consecutive field goal misses by LCU.

Caitlyn Cunyus' jumper with 3:52 remaining in the quarter was LCU's first field goal and points of the quarter (opened the quarter with 10 straight misses). Alexus Jones followed with a three-pointer to cut LCU's lead to 36-31. It would be as close as TAMUC would get, as Maddi Chitsey had a pair of field goals and Allie Schulte connected with a three-pointer to close the quarter on a 7-0 run for the Lady Chaps. LCU led 43-31 at the end of the quarter.

LCU scored 14 points in the final quarter and seven were from the free-throw line. The Lions were in the same boat. They had nine points from the line and were held to two field goals in the quarter. TAMUC was 3-of-33 (9%) from the field over the game's final 17 minutes, but despite the sluggish shooting, they benefitted from trips to the free-throw line and twice cut their deficit into single digits in the fourth quarter. Juliana Robertson had a field goal with 1:06 remaining to put the lead at 11, and Ashton Duncan hit her fourth three-pointer of the game inside the final minute to put LCU up 12 points (55-43).

TAMUC's Bryant led the Lions with 16 points. They completed the game 21.2% (14/66) from the field, with their 44 points serving as a season low. It marks the third consecutive season in which A&M-Commerce's season-low in points came against LCU (42 in 2018-19 and 39 in 2017-18). The Lions fell to 27-3 with the loss.

LCU received a solid performance from Maddi Chitsey. She produced her second double-double of the season against TAMUC and her third overall on the season (the first in a victory). Chitsey had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while also posting four assists, four blocks and four steals. She contributed a +21 plus/minus. LCU also received 12 points from Ashton Duncan and 10 points from Allie Schulte. Duncan nailed four three-pointers in the game and Schulte posted six rebounds, five assists and four steals.