NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight - Semifinals No.5-Seed No.20 CENTRAL MISSOURI (23-4) vs. No.1-Seed No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (21-0) March 24, 2021 • 7:45 p.m. (Central) Columbus, Ohio • Greater Columbus Convention Center (Battelle Grand) TOURNAMENT BRACKET: Click Here LIVE STATS: NCAA.COM WATCH ON TV OR ONLINE: CBS SPORTS NETWORK Talent: Jason Knapp (Play-By-Play), Julianne Viani-Braen (Analyst) (online viewing is through authenticated CBS Sports platforms) POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: NCAA.COM LCU Social Media:
	CENTRAL MISSOURI (23-4) Location: Warrensburg, Mo. Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Head Coach: Dave Slifer (Mount Mercy, 1982) 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

ONE IN OHIO
Top-seeded and No.1 nationally ranked Lubbock Christian University has one game under their belt at the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio, and a one win from advancing to the national championship game. LCU advanced to the Final Four of the Elite Eight event with a 66-49 win Tuesday evening over No.8-seeded No.15 Daemen College, setting up a semifinals clash with No.5-seed No.20 Central Missouri Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. (Central) from Greater Columbus Convention Center's Battelle Grand (ballroom). The semifinal contest will be televised on CBS Sports Network and online through authenticated platforms containing CBS Sports and/or the CBS Sports app.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat Central Missouri, they will improve to 22-0 on the season and will advance to the championship game Friday to face either Azusa Pacific or Drury with a 7:00 p.m. (Central) tip (game will be carried on CBS Sports Network).

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Jennie, their season will close with a 21-1 mark and they will be eliminated from the tournament. Their all-time NCAA postseason record would also be placed at 18-2 all-time with the two losses occurring against Central Missouri.
 
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP REWIND
With wins in the opening week of March 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 with their 2021 regional title. The Lady Chaps 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 had played away from home until this season's two regional games in Canyon, Texas.
 
This season, LCU claimed regional wins over Cameron (96-66) 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
 
#MERICA
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, LCU has multiple All-America Team members named by the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association and D2CCA (Division II Conference Commissioners Association), as Allie Schulte (First Team – WBCA, Second Team – D2CCA) and Emma Middleton (Third Team – D2CCA) have received the recognition.
 
The honors are the first of their careers. This season marks the second consecutive season LCU women's basketball student-athlete has received an All-America honor. Schulte and Middleton are the fourth and fifth different Lady Chap recipient and LCU has now received seven All-America honors since becoming NCAA Division II members in 2015-2016.
 
LIVING THE DREAM
LCU heads into Wednesday's action in Columbus with an 18-1 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 nine consecutive NCAA postseason games since their lone loss. Tuesday, Allie Schulte became LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason games played (13). She averages 10.0 points per game and is LCU's active scoring leader for NCAA postseason games (130 points…Maddi Chitsey has the record at 176 for LCU). LCU averages 77.8 points per game and an average allowance of 63.1 points in their prior 19 NCAA postseason contests. They average 50.3% shooting from the field and have held opponents to an average of 37.9% 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 16 of their 21 games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (63, sixth nationally) and averages 3.0 per game to lead the LSC (15^th nationally).
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU ranks second in the LSC in three-point field goals (169), 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 8.0 in neutral site venues. The Lady Chaps success rate of 36.0% shooting from outside is 23^rd nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 65 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 48.3% (28/58), and Duncan is third in the conference at 42.8%. 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 57.8%. From long range, she is shooting 48.3%. In 21 games this season, she has two-or-less missed shots in 11 of the games. She is a career 40-of-76 (.526) from the field in NCAA postseason contests, going 12-of-21 (.571) 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 121.
-Actively ranks fourth in career steals (226) and 24^th in career assists with 316 assists. She is one steal away from breaking into the top-five among LCU career program leaders.
-Ashton Duncan needs 12 three-pointers to move into the top-5 in LCU's career three-point field goal leaders (has 176 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)
 
NEUTRALITY
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 18 consecutive wins. Last season, Allie Schulte led LCU with 13.3 points per game in neutral sites. She averages 15.5 points per game in three neutral site games this season and is behind Emma Middleton, who leads the team with 18.0 points per neutral site contest. Ashton Duncan is averaging 13.7 points per neutral site game and a mark of 4.0 three-pointers per contest. Juliana Robertson is averaging 8.7 rebounds per game in neutral site play.
 
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 (101) and are 14th in blocks per game (4.8), leading the LSC in each category. Emma Middleton (40, leads the conference and 19^th nationally), Juliana Robertson (14, tied for ninth in the conference) Channing Cunyus (14, tied for ninth in the LSC) and Whitney Cox (13, tied for 12th in the LSC) place LCU with four players in the top-15 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also leads the LSC and 31^st nationally with 1.9 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.14, LCU ranks 16^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 15.9 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 (2.7) 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 13.5 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 32.9% (fourth in the nation).
 
CHARITY STRIPE
LCU has found success at the free-throw line this season, leading nationally, shooting 82.9% from the free-throw line. Allie Schulte leads LCU at the charity stripe with an 88.5% free-throw shooting percentage (69/78), which ranks fourth in the LSC. She is 19-of-19 in the NCAA postseason this season from the line and 38-of-40 all-time in NCAA postseason play at the line. As a team in NCAA postseason history, LCU is 78.6% from the line.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT UCM
1 > The Jennies are based in Warrensburg, Mo. and are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). After a 27-4 season in 2019-20, the Jennies were preseason picked third this season in the MIAA preseason poll.
2 > UCM went 19-3 in the regular season, but fell to Washburn in the opening round of the MIAA tournament. Ironically in 2018, the season they defeated LCU in the Elite Eight semifinals, UCM won the national title after falling in the opening round of the conference tournament.  
3 > All-time in NCAA postseason games, the Jennies are 32-21 and 11-1 going back to 2018. They advanced to semifinal play after a 65-42 win over No.4-seed Belmont Abbey.
4 > UCM leads the nation in free-throws made (394) and free-throws attempted (519) heading into Ohio. Graycen Holden and Nija Collier each are in the top-30 nationally in free-throw attempts.
5 > Morgan VanHyfte entered the Elite Eight ninth nationally in steals with 56.

THE SERIES AGAINST UCM
The Lady Chaps and Jennies have two prior meetings and each were won by the Jennies. The first meeting was Mar. 19, 2018 in Sioux Falls, S.D. at the Elite Eight Tournament, as the Jennies outlasted LCU 72-62. The two teams met in the 2018 St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic, with LCU falling 67-62 in San Antonio, Texas (Nov. 24, 2018). LCU is 4-3 all-time against Missouri based programs.

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

Allie Schulte 2gp – 7.5 pts/g, 4/7 3pt fg%
Juliana Robertson 1gp 5pts, 5 reb

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. UCM
Nov. 24, 2018 (San Antonio, Texas) – UCM: 67 - LCU:62
No.3/10 Lubbock Christian University and No.1 Central Missouri combined for 21 three-pointers and despite a career-high 25-point performance from LCU's Olivia Robertson, UCM's 11 three-pointers were enough to carry them for a 67-62 win Saturday at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic inside Bill Greehey Arena.
 
Each team had more three-pointers than two-point field goals, as the combined 21 three-pointers made up for 53.8% of the team's combined 39 field goals. It was LCU's first game since Jan. 21, 2017 in which each team had at least 10 three-pointers. Eight different players (five UCM players) connected from long range, with Paige Redmond leading all players with a 5-of-8 success mark for UCM.
 
The "threes" started early, as the two teams combined for six three-pointers (three each) in the opening 1:27 of the game (LCU led 11-9). Megan Skaggs hit a three-pointer to ignite a 7-2 Jennies run, but Robertson answered at the other end with a three-pointer to tie the contest 16-16 (4:23 remaining in the first quarter). Robertson was 3-of-3 from downtown in the quarter, and her third of the quarter came in the final seconds to cut UCM's lead to 20-19 at quarter's close. Each team was 5-of-8 from long range in the quarter and each team combined for three field goals inside the arc (two for LCU).
 
LCU struggled from the field in the second quarter, making two of nine field goals and shooting 22.2% in the frame. Both field goals were three-pointers, as LCU was 0-of-2 inside the arc in the quarter. Despite the lack of field goals, LCU was able to come back from a 26-19 deficit and answer a 6-0 UCM run with an 8-0 run for a 27-26 advantage. The Lady Chaps went the final 5:32 of the half without a field goal, and a 7-1 run by the Jennies, to close the half, provided them a 33-28 halftime lead.
 
The squads combined for 13 three-pointers in the first half. LCU was 7-of-15 (46.7%) and UCM was 6-of-14 (42.9%) from long distance in the half. Robertson led all players at the half with 14 points off 4-of-5 shooting from long range.
 
LCU's dry spell ended with a span of 6:49, as Allie Schulte connected on a field goal 1:17 into the half. Redmond and Skaggs connected on back-to-back three-pointers for the Jennies to extend their lead to 44-32 with 5:51 left in the third quarter. Schulte ended the 7-0 run with a three-pointer, which ignited a 9-0 LCU run to cut the deficit to 44-41 with 2:25 left in the quarter. Caitlyn Cunyus nailed a three-pointer for the final field goal of the quarter and sent LCU to the fourth quarter trailing 46-44.
 
Schulte made it a one-point game (48-47) 35 seconds into the final frame with a three-point but Central Missouri had an answer with Redmond connecting from long distance. A minute-and-a-half later, Skaggs drained a three and UCM extended their lead to 57-51. UCM went the final 1:57 without a field goal, but picked up four points from the free-throw line to secure the win.
 
UCM, improving to 5-1, received 23 points from Skaggs off 7-of-12 shooting (3-of-5 from three-point range). She also added six rebounds, five assists and four steals. They also received 17 points from Redmond, 11 from Morgan Fleming and 10 points from Kimberly Crown. The Jennies, who defeated LCU in the Elite Eight NCAA Division II Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. last March, improved to 2-0 all-time against the Lady Chaps.
 
LCU (6-2), shooting a season-low 36.7% (18/49), had Schulte join Robertson in double figures with 15 points. She was 4-of-7 from long distance, and had five rebounds, four steals and four assists.