NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight - Quarterfinals No.8-Seed No.15 DAEMEN COLLEGE (14-2) vs. No.1-Seed No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (20-0) March 23, 2021 • 5 p.m. (Central) Columbus, Ohio • Greater Columbus Convention Center (Battelle Grand) TOURNAMENT BRACKET: Click Here LIVE STATS: NCAA.COM WATCH ONLINE: NCAA.COM Talent: Will Haskett (Play-By-Play), Tully Bevilaqua (Analyst) POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: NCAA.COM LCU Social Media:
	DAEMEN COLLEGE (14-2) Location: Amherst, N.Y. Conference: East Coast (ECC) Head Coach: Jenepher Banker (Springfield, 1985) Roster | Stats | Game Notes
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (19-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

CARRYING THE TARGET
With two NCAA Division II national titles and a 20-0 record after claiming a fourth South Central Region title (all since 2016), Lubbock Christian University is no longer Cinderella at the ball. They may be labeled as the Big Bad Wolf to some and they carry a target, as No.1 LCU enters the field at the Elite Eight as the No.1-seed. Play gets underway for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tuesday, with Lubbock Christian facing No.8-seed and No.15-nationally ranked Daemen College in a 5 p.m. (central) Quarterfinal tip. LCU arrived in Columbus, Ohio Saturday to complete pre-tournament testing and meetings. They were also able to practice Saturday at Alumni Hall, on the Ohio Dominican University campus, which was their first time back (at Alumni Hall) since their 2019 double overtime national title over Southwestern Oklahoma State. Ironic, as LCU arrives in Columbus after a South Central Regional title win over SWOSU. Alumni Hall was originally in the mix to host the event this year, but with COVID's interruption, the games have been arranged to be played inside Battelle Grand ballroom inside Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) in downtown Columbus.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat Daemen College, they will improve to 21-0 on the season and will advance to the semifinals (Final Four) Wednesday to face either Belmont Abbey or Central Missouri with a 7:45 p.m. tip (game will be carried on CBS Sports Network).

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Wildcats, their season will close with an 20-1 mark and they will be eliminated from the tournament.
 
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP REWIND
With wins last week over St. Mary's, Cameron and Texas A&M-Commerce, inside Rip Griffin Center, LCU became the sixth program to claim multiple tournament titles in the LSC. The 2021 LSC Championships tournament title punched LCU's fifth ticket to a NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament. The Lady Chaps improved to 6-0 all-time in LSC Championship tournament games. They defeated TAMUC for a second consecutive season in the title game.
 
Three Lady Chap members claimed All-Tournament honors for the LSC Championships, highlighted by Emma Middleton claiming MVP honors. Allie Schulte and Caitlyn Cunyus claimed All-Tournament accolades. Middleton had 14.7 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game. Schulte, 15-of-19 shooting (.789) in the tournament, also had 14.7 points a game. Cunyus, who went 5-of-10 (50%) from three-point range in the tournament, averaged 11.3 points per contest.
 
REGIONAL REWIND
LCU improved to 11-0 all-time in South Central Region tournament play. LCU hosted the entire tournament in 2016 and 2018, and hosted the championship game in 2019. They were to host the entire tournament in 2020, but no game was ever played due to the COVID-19 shutdown. In 2019, LCU played a neutral site game (vs. Tarleton) in Grand Junction, Colo., where they also faced host Colorado Mesa, and the two games stood as LCU's only regional games they have played away from home, until this season's regional games in Canyon, Texas.
 
This season, LCU claimed regional wins over Cameron and Southwestern Oklahoma State (78-65), with LCU overcoming an eight-point second half deficit, to advance to the Elite Eight. Emma Middleton posted 22 points in the win over SWOSU to clinch the Most Outstanding Player honor of the South Central Region after averaging 18.5 points in the two games LCU played in the tournament. Allie Schulte (16.5 points per game) and Juliana Robertson (11.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game) each joined Middleton claiming All-Tournament honors.
 
LONE STARS
Here is a quick glance at LCU's Lone Star Conference season honors:
 
All-Conference
Allie Schulte (First Team)
Ashton Duncan (Second Team)
Emma Middleton (Second Team)
Juliana Robertson (Third Team)
Madelyn Turner (Honorable Mention)
 
All-Defensive Team
Emma Middleton
Allie Schulte
 
All-Academic Team
Allie Schulte
 
Coach of the Year
Steve Gomez
 
SO, HERE WE ARE
LCU returns to Columbus with a 17-1 all-time record in NCAA postseason play. The one loss was to Central Missouri in the quarterfinals in 2018 (in Sioux Falls, S.D.). They have won eight consecutive NCAA postseason games since their lone loss. If Allie Schulte plays Tuesday (as expected), she will become LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason games played (13). She averages 9.8 points per game and is LCU's active scoring leader for NCAA postseason games. LCU averages 78.4 points per game and an average allowance of 63.9 points in their prior 18 NCAA postseason contests. They average 51.1% shooting from the field and have held opponents to an average of 38.2% shooting.

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, achieving 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, averaged 13.0 points a game in conference. Emma Middleton also averaged double figures in points (10.9) in conference play.

STEALING THE SHOW
LCU enters the week ranked 15th in steals per game (11.6). The Lady Chaps have had at least 10 steals in 15 of their 20 games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (59, sixth nationally) and averages 2.95 per game to lead the LSC (15^th nationally).
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU ranks second in the LSC in three-point field goals (160), averaging 8.0 per game (33^rd in the nation). They average 8.1 three-pointers per game on the road, 7.9 at home and 7.5 in neutral site venues. The Lady Chaps success rate of 36.2% shooting from outside is 23^rd nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 61 three-pointers (fifth nationally and leads the LSC), ranking 10th nationally with a rate of 3.1 per game (second in LSC). Schulte sits just below the minimums in three-point shooting percentage, and has a mark of 50.0% (27/54), and Duncan is fourth in the conference at 43.0%. 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 seventh nationally in field goal percentage with a mark of 60.1%. From long range, she is shooting 50.0%. In 20 games this season, she has two-or-less missed shots in 11 of the games. She is a career 37-of-64 (.578) from the field in NCAA postseason contests, going 11-of-17 (.647) from three-point range.

THROWING STONES
A look at upcoming milestones on the horizon for Lady Chap members:
-Allie Schulte ranks fifth nationally in Division II active players in career games played with 120.
-Actively ranks fourth in career steals (222) and 24^th in career assists with 312 assists. She is five steals away from breaking into the top-five among LCU career program leaders.
-Ashton Duncan needs 16 three-pointers to move into the top-5 in LCU's career three-point field goal leaders (has 172 and needs 188).

NATIONALLY KNOWN
LCU has been the "No.1" team in NCAA Division II women's college basketball over the final five released polls of the regular season (conducted by both the WBCA and D2SIDA).
 
Prior to the current 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 20-0 this season and the only NCAA Division II without a loss (with at least five games played).
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU went 13-0 last season inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps, who wrapped up home play with the LSC Championships and becoming the first team since 2007 to win the LSC Championship tournament on a campus venue, went 13-0 this season at home and with their active home win streak sitting at 91 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 (not including a 3-0 mark in LSC postseason play), 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
91 - 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 
91 – LCU (Division II)
37 – North Georgia (Division II)
36 – Messiah (Division III)
 
ON THE DAILY
LCU's win in the semifinals of the South Central Region over Cameron marked their first neutral site game of the season. They went 6-0 in neutral site play in 2019-20 and currently have the longest active neutral site win streak in all of NCAA women's basketball at 17 consecutive wins. Last season, Allie Schulte led LCU with 13.3 points per game in neutral sites. She averages 16.5 points per game in two neutral site games this season and is behind Emma Middleton, who leads the team with 18.5 points per neutral site contest. LCU's South Central Region championship win over Southwestern Oklahoma State was played on a Monday night. With that game under their belt, LCU has played on every day of the week (last season, all of LCU's games were played on four days of the week, with their final game serving as their lone Sunday game).
 
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. Despite several midseason game postponements, they rank seventh in blocks (98) and are 14th in blocks per game (4.9), leading the LSC in each category. Emma Middleton (39, leads the conference and 19^th nationally), Channing Cunyus (14, tied for 11^th in the LSC), Whitney Cox (13, tied for 13th in the LSC) and Juliana Robertson (13, tied for 13^th in the conference) place LCU with four players in the top-15 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also leads the LSC and 31^st nationally with 1.95 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.14, LCU ranks 16^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 16.0 assists per game ranks 30^th in the nation, with team leader Allie Schulte (averaging 3.6 per game) leading the LSC and ranking 13th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.48). Madelyn Turner (2.6) and Juliana Robertson (2.4) are also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 36th nationally in turnovers per game (leads the LSC) with a mark of 13.8 per game (they rank 14^th in turnovers forced and eighth in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 11^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 49.0 points per game (leads the nation). From the floor, opponents are shooting 33.0% (fourth in the nation).
 
CHARITY STRIPE
LCU has found success at the free-throw line this season, leading nationally, shooting 82.7% from the free-throw line. Allie Schulte leads LCU at the charity stripe with an 87.7% free-throw shooting percentage (64/73), which ranks fourth in the LSC. She is 14-of-14 in the NCAA postseason this season from the line and 33-of-35 all-time in NCAA postseason play at the line. As a team in NCAA postseason history, LCU is 78.3% from the line.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT DAEMEN
1 > The Wildcats are based in Amherst, N.Y. in the Buffalo, N.Y. metro area, and are members of the East Coast Conference. After a 23-5 season in 2019-20, the Wildcats were the ECC favorites in this season's preseason poll, which also had Tiara Filbert as the preseason player of the year.
2 > DC went 11-1 in the regular season and won the ECC with a 9-0 conference mark. They fell to Roberts Wesleyan in the ECC tournament, but rebounded to defeat them in the East Regional to stamp their first-ever trip to the Elite Eight.  
3 > Like LCU, Daemen are former members of the NAIA, but they were NAIA Division II (American Mideast Conference) until 2012 and became USCAA members until going NCAA Division II as active members in 2015-16, which is the same year LCU's first season of full membership began.
4 > Daemen leads the nation holding opponents to 32.0% shooting on the season.
5 > ECC player of the year Caroline White ranked second in the ECC in points per game (14.9) and led the ECC in rebounds per game (8.5). Daemen has multiple weapons, including Katie Titus, who is 19^th nationally with 2.8 three-pointers per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST DAEMEN
The meeting marks the first ever meeting between the two squads. LCU has never faced a New York based program.