LSC CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINALS No.8- Seed ST. MARY'S (6-8) at No.1-Seed No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (15-0) March 2, 2021 • 5 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:
	ST. MARY'S RATTLERS (6-8) Location: San Antonio, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Jason Martens (Bethel, 2000) Roster | Stats | Game Notes
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (15-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

POSTSEASON PLAY BEGINS
No.1 Lubbock Christian University opens their postseason play in the Lone Star Conference Championship in the Quarterfinals Tuesday as the top seed and hosting No.8-seed St. Mary's with a 5 p.m. tip-off inside Rip Griffin Center. With COVID-19 playing its role, the Lone Star Conference Championships (or conference tournament for simplistic understanding) returns to a campus site for the first time since 2007 (Commerce, Texas), as the eight-team tournament has four quarterfinal contests played on campus sites of the better-seeded team. The top remaining seed after Tuesday's quarterfinals round will host the remainder of the tournament Friday and Saturday. This is LCU's second season to participate in the Lone Star Conference Championships. They won the tournament last season in Frisco, Texas after competing the prior four seasons in the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., where they won three tournament titles.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat StMU, they will improve to 16-0 on the season and will advance to the Semifinals to host either Cameron or Midwestern State Friday.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Rattlers, their record will drop to 16-1, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will await an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament (six-team tournament in Canyon, Texas). The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show will air Sunday, Mar. 7 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.

MIDDLE-ENDING
The Lone Star Conference announced Lubbock Christian University's Emma Middleton as the conference's women's basketball Defensive Player of the Week honoree for her play in the final week of regular season play.
 
Middleton was a big contributor on the defensive end of LCU's regular season sweep of West Texas A&M, which included a 68-42 home win and a 48-45 road win at the No.16 Lady Buffs. Thursday, she posted 12 points and had two blocks, with a game-high +27 plus/minus, in their home win over WT. Saturday, she tied a career high with four blocks, and had LCU's only double-double of this season with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the program's first-ever win in Canyon, Texas. Emma averaged 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks on the week.
 
The honor is Middleton's third LSC Player of the Week honor and second defensive honor this season. Four Lady Chaps members this season have claimed a LSC weekly honor this season, and Middleton is the only Lady Chap with multiple honors. Ashton Duncan (offensive), Allie Schulte (offensive) and Juliana Robertson (defensive) have each received an honor this season, and Middleton is LCU's only recipient to win both the offensive and defensive honor on this season.
 
TOURNEY TALK
LCU is 3-0 all-time in the LSC Championships, with all three wins coming in their debut at last season's tournament in Frisco, Texas. Three Lady Chaps received All-Tournament Team accolades last season, including Caitlyn Cunyus, who received Tournament MVP honors. She was joined by Allie Schulte and Maddi Chitsey. Cunyus led LCU in scoring for the tournament with 11.7 points per game. She was 7-of-9 from three-point range. Schulte averaged 11.0 points per game, while also combining for 12 assists and eight steals. Chitsey led LCU with 6.3 rebounds and seven blocks. LCU was 47.1% in the tournament from three-point range (27/33). Ashton Duncan was 10-of-15 (66.7%) in the tournament from three-point range.

LONE STAR GAZING
The Lady Chaps are playing in their second season in the Lone Star Conference and went 13-0 this season in conference play, and achieved the top seed in the conference tournament by finishing first in the LSC's point system formula. Allie Schulte led LCU in conference play, averaging 15.4 points per game. She was 20-of-42 (47.6%) from three-point range in conference tilts. Ashton Duncan, 44-of-95 (46.3%) from long distance in conference games, is averaging 13.0 points a game in conference. Emma Middleton is also averaging double figures in points (10.9) in conference play.

STEALING THE SHOW
LCU enters the week ranked 16^th in steals per game (11.7). The Lady Chaps have had at least 10 steals in 12 of their 15 games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (44) and averages 2.9 per game to lead the LSC (16^th nationally).
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU ranked third in the LSC in three-point field goals (123), averaging 8.2 per game (32^nd in the nation). They average 8.8 three-pointers per game on the road and 7.9 at home. The Lady Chaps success rate of 36.6% shooting from outside is 19th nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 46 three-pointers (25^th nationally and second in the LSC), ranking 10th nationally with a rate of 3.07 per game (second in LSC). Schulte sits just below the minimums in three-point shooting percentage, and has a mark of 46.5%, and Duncan ranks second in the conference at 46.5%. Twelve (12) 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 eighth nationally in field goal percentage with a mark of 59.7%. From long range, she is shooting 46.5%. In 15 games this season, she has two-or-less missed shots in nine of the games.

THROWING STONES
A look at upcoming milestones on the horizon for Lady Chap members:
-Allie Schulte ranks eighth nationally in Division II active players in career games played with 115.
-Is seven assists away from 300 career assists.
-Actively ranks 30^th in career assists with 293 assists.
-Ashton Duncan needs 25 three-pointers to move into the top-5 in LCU's career three-point field goal leaders (has 163 and needs 188).

NATIONALLY KNOWN
This week potentially marks LCU's fourth week as the "No.1" team in NCAA Division II women's college basketball, as both the WBCA and D2SIDA were to release their weekly Top-25 Polls Tuesday. The WBCA released theirs Monday with Lubbock Christian University remaining as the top team.
 
Prior to the current four-week stretch, LCU last held the No.1 ranking in January of 2020, coming off the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship season. With no basketball championships held last season due to COVID-19, LCU remains as the reigning national champions. They are 13-0 this season and one of four teams in NCAA Division II that have not suffered a loss, and one of two teams of the four with at least a 10-0 mark (Lander is 15-0).
 
WHEN AT HOME
LCU went 13-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps, who host St. Mary's Thuesday, are 10-0 this season at home and with their active home win streak sitting at 88 games, which is the active and all-time leading mark in NCAA Division II women's basketball. 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 74 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 21-0 in LSC home games).
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
88 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
87 - Neb.-Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
85 - West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991

NCAA'S ACTIVE-LEADING HOME WIN STREAKS 
87 – LCU (Division II)
35 – North Georgia (Division II)
33 – Messiah (Division III)
 
MORE ON THE HOME FRONT
Allie Schulte leads LCU at home this season, averaging 13.7 points per game. Ashton Duncan (13.2) and Emma Middleton (12.0) also average double figures at home. LCU has a 51-11 advantage in blocks and a 109-41 advantage in steals at home, and they have held opponents to 31.3% shooting. The Lady Chaps are shooting 48.9% on the Rip Griffin Center floor this season, with a 38.0% shooting mark from outside. Duncan is shooting 55.0% from outside at home. She is 33-of-60 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 ranked in the top-10 until several midseason game postponements. Currently, they rank 14^th in blocks (71) and are ninth in blocks per game (5.3), leading the LSC in the per-game category. Emma Middleton (29, second in the conference and 28^th nationally), Whitney Cox (13, 10th in the LSC) and Juliana Robertson (11, 13^th in the conference) place LCU with three players in the top-13 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also leads the LSC and 32^nd nationally with 1.93 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.19, LCU ranks 16^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 15.3 assists per game ranks 42^nd in the nation, with team leader Allie Schulte (averaging 3.5 per game) leading the LSC and ranking ninth nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.79). Juliana Robertson (2.5) and Madelyn Turner (2.5) are also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 20th nationally in turnovers per game (leads the LSC) with a mark of 12.9 per game (they rank 14^th in turnovers forced and fifth in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 16^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 44.7 points per game (leads the nation). From the floor, opponents are shooting 31.5% (second nationally).
 
CHARITY STRIPE
LCU has found success at the free-throw line this season, ranking second nationally, shooting 81.5% from the free-throw line. Allie Schulte leads LCU at the charity stripe with an 85.7% free-throw shooting percentage (42/49), which ranks third in the LSC.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT StMU
1 > The Rattlers are coming off a 14-14 campaign in 2019-20, finishing 12-10 in the Lone Star Conference and tied atop their division with a 7-3 record. They opened the 2020-21 season in Lubbock (second consecutive season to open in Lubbock, as they opened the 2019-20 season with Southwestern Oklahoma State in a neutral site contest). They went 6-8 during the regular season and finished just ahead of Texas Woman's in the point rating system.
2 > St. Mary's was preseason picked fifth in the LSC Preseason Poll. They went 4-2 in divisional play in the South Division, and finished second in the division, which also contains St. Edward's Texas A&M International, Texas A&M – Kingsville and UT Tyler.
3 > St. Mary's has advanced to the league championship tournament in all 15 sea­sons of Head Coach Jason Marten's ten­ure. This is the second-straight Lone Star Conference Tournament appearance and the Rattlers made 13 consecutive Heartland Conference appearances under his guidance.
4 > Senior forward Hannah Wilson has posted a double-double in points and rebounds in each of the last seven games and in eight total games this season. She is the only player in the Lone Star averaging a double-double in 2021, with a mark of 13.9 points and 10.5 rebounds. Wilson, ranking fourth in Rattlers program history with 90 points, is fifth in their program history in career rebounds (864) and needs 16 move into fourth in their program record books.
5 > The Rattlers defense ranks third in the LSC, holding opponents to an average of 61.3 points per game (44^th nationally).

THE SERIES AGAINST StMU
LCU leads the all-times series 18-3 over StMU. The Lady Chaps are 15-2 against the Rattlers since the 2013-14 season and are 9-0 inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU has won nine straight meetings following their prior meeting (67-47 win in Lubbock on Dec. 12, 2020), which completed a regular season series sweep. LCU is 2-0 against StMU all-time in conference tournaments, with wins in the 2016 and 2017 Heartland Conference tournaments.

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

Ashton Duncan 7gp - 9.7 pts/g, 19/38 3-pt fg
Allie Schulte 7gp - 9.3 pts/g, 23/35 fg (8/12 3-pt fg)
Juliana Robertson 6gp - 4.7 pts/g, 12/25 fg

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. StMU
Dec. 12, 2020 (Lubbock, Texas) - StMU:47 - LCU:67
The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals completed a two-game weekend sweep of St. Mary's with a 67-57 Lone Star Conference victory.

LCU benefited off a strong first-half shooting performance to reach the home victory. LCU trailed 6-2, opening the first four minutes of the game 1-of-4 from the field. Emma Middleton connected on a three-pointer with 5:35 left in the quarter and LCU went on an 8-of-11 shooting stretch from the field. LCU had a 9-0 run and an eventual 6-0 run to close the quarter, as Madelyn Turner and Laynee Burr each hit three-pointers to give LCU a 19-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Chaps also had a 9-0 run and an 8-0 run in the second quarter.

LCU shot 61.5% (16/26) in the opening half (8-of-12, 66.7% in the second quarter) and led 40-21 at the half. They received field goals from nine different players, and six different players connected on a three-point field goal in the half, as LCU was 7-of-11 (63.6%) from downtown in the half.

The hot shooting wouldn't return in the second half. Neither team could find their shooting touch in the third quarter. LCU turned the ball over five times and missed their first six shot attempts of the half. The Lady Chaps went a five-minute span without a point, but the best StMU could do was one field goal and a 6-0 run during the LCU lull. Allie Schulte ended the dry spell with a layup as 4:54 remained in the quarter, which began a 9-0 LCU run, LCU closed the quarter on an 11-2 run for a 51- 29 lead.

Each team shot 25% from the field in the third quarter. The teams did warm back up in the fourth quarter. Especially St. Mary's, who went 7-of-11 (63.6) from the field in the quarter (Rattlers connected on three three-pointers in the frame).

Schulte led LCU with a balanced performance. She led the team in scoring (11 points), rebounds (6), assists (5) and steals (5). Her five steals matched a career high. LCU did have 13 different players factor into the scoring and had six players with at least seven points. They finished the game 46.4% (26/56) from the field. LCU had 12 blocks Friday, but only recorded one Saturday.

St. Mary's (0-2, 0-2) received a double-double from Hannah Wilson, who led the LSC in double-doubles last season. She had 13 points and 12 rebounds, serving as the only Rattler in double digits in either category.