NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight - Championship No.3-Seed No.2 DRURY (24-1) vs. No.1-Seed No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (22-0) March 26, 2021 • 7:00 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:
	DRURY (24-1) Location: Springfield, Mo. Conference: Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) Head Coach: Amy Eagan (Truman State, 2001) Roster | Stats | Game Notes
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (22-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

ONE "MO" TIME
The road towards a third NCAA Division II national tile goes through another Missouri based program Friday, as top-seeded No.1 Lubbock Christian University faces No.3-seeded No.2 Drury at Battelle Grand inside Greater Columbus Convention Center. LCU arrives in the championship game after defeating No.15 Daemen College in the quarterfinals (66-49) and No.20 Central Missouri in the semifinals (63-61). Friday's contest marks LCU's fourth national championship game appearance in program history. In 2006, LCU fell to Union in the NAIA National Championship Game (in Jackson, Tenn.), claimed the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship, completing a perfect 35-0 season with a victory over Alaska Anchorage (in Indianapolis) and in 2019 they became the first NCAA Division II team to win in double overtime by defeating Southwestern Oklahoma State 95-85 in Columbus, Ohio (that game was played at Ohio Dominican's Alumni Hall). Lubbock Christian University holds 16 national titles, with the 2016 women's basketball title serving as their latest two titles won. LCU's baseball (2) and softball program have each claimed titles, along with 11 claimed in the combination of their running programs.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeats Drury, they will close their season record at 23-0 and they will improve their NCAA Division II postseason all-time record to 20-1. They would become the fifth team in NCAA Division II history to claim at least three national titles in NCAA Division II, and the first team to win consecutive tournaments since Cal Poly Pomona completed the task in 2001 and 2002 (five different programs have won the tournament consecutively)..

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Panthers, their season will close with a 22-1 mark and they will be eliminated from the tournament as the National Runner-up. Their all-time NCAA postseason record would also be placed at 19-2 all-time with the two losses occurring against Missouri based teams. LCU would also fall to 2-2 in national title games.
 
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 16th in steals per game (11.4). The Lady Chaps have had at least 10 steals in 16 of their 22 games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (63, sixth nationally) and averages 2.9 per game to lead the LSC (21^st nationally). Schulte did not have a steal Wednesday against Central Missouri, marking the third time this season she did not have a steal in a game.
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU ranks second in the LSC in three-point field goals (176), averaging 8.0 per game (34^th 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 36.4% shooting from outside is 20^th nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 67 three-pointers (fourth nationally and leads the LSC), ranking 12th nationally with a rate of 3.1 per game (second in the LSC). Schulte sits just below the minimums in three-point shooting percentage, and has a mark of 48.4% (30/62), and Duncan is third in the conference at 42.4%. 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 57.7%. From long range, she is shooting 48.4%. In 22 games this season, she has two-or-less missed shots in 11 of the games. She is a career 48-of-90 (.533) from the field in NCAA postseason contests, going 14-of-25 (.560) from three-point range.

THROWING STONES
A look at upcoming milestones on the horizon for Lady Chap members:
-Allie Schulte ranks fourth nationally in Division II active players in career games played with 122.
-Actively ranks fourth in career steals (226) and 21^st in career assists with 320 assists. She is one steal away from breaking into the top-five among LCU career program leaders.
-Ashton Duncan needs 10 three-pointers to move into the top-5 in LCU's career three-point field goal leaders (has 178 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 19 consecutive wins. Last season, Allie Schulte led LCU with 13.3 points per game in neutral sites. She averages 17.3 points per game in four neutral site games this season and is ahead of Emma Middleton, who has an average of 17.0 points per neutral site contest. Ashton Duncan is averaging 11.8 points per neutral site game and a mark of 4.0 three-pointers per contest. Juliana Robertson is averaging 8.0 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 second in blocks (110) and are 12th in blocks per game (5.0), leading the LSC in each category. Emma Middleton (45, leads the conference and 14^th nationally), Juliana Robertson (15, tied for ninth in the conference) Channing Cunyus (15, tied for ninth in the LSC) and Whitney Cox (13, 14th in the LSC) place LCU with four players in the top-15 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also leads the LSC and 26^th nationally with 2.1 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.17, LCU ranks 15^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 15.6 assists per game ranks 37^th in the nation, with team leader Allie Schulte (averaging 3.6 per game) leading the LSC and ranking 14th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.50). Madelyn Turner (2.6) and Juliana Robertson (2.5) are also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 22^nd nationally in turnovers per game (leads the LSC) with a mark of 13.3 per game (they rank 23^rd in turnovers forced and eighth in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 16^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 49.5 points per game (leads the nation). From the floor, opponents are shooting 33.2% (seventh in the nation).
 
CHARITY STRIPE
LCU has found success at the free-throw line this season, leading nationally, shooting 83.1% from the free-throw line. Allie Schulte leads LCU at the charity stripe with an 88.2% free-throw shooting percentage (75/85), which ranks third in the LSC. She is 25-of-26 (96.2%) in the NCAA postseason this season from the line and 44-of-47 (93.6%) all-time in NCAA postseason play at the line. As a team in NCAA postseason history, LCU is 78.8% from the line.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT DRURY
1 > The Panthers are based in Springfield, Mo. and are members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). After a 32-0 season in 2019-20, the Panthers were preseason picked first this season in the West Division in the GLVC preseason poll.
2 > DU went 17-1 in the regular season and have a current record of 24-1 after winning the GLVC Tournament and the Midwest Regional (defeated Ashland 88-69 in the final). They enter Friday winners of 14 consecutive games.  
3 > Drury last played in a championship game in 2004, in St. Joseph, Mo. They fell to California (PA) 75-72.
4 > Paige Robinson was voted the WBCA NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Player of the Year for this season and Amy Eagan claimed WBCA Coach of the Year honors in Division II. She ranks 11^th nationally in scoring (21.2 points per game) and is one of 11 Division II players with a triple-double this season.
5 > Drury leads the nation in steals (312), but it is a balanced threat, as they do not have an individual in the top-35 nationally or top-five in the GLVC in steals.

THE SERIES AGAINST DRURY
Drury was an original Heartland Conference member and LCU joined the Heartland when they first joined NCAA Division II, but the two programs were never Heartland members at the same time. LCU is 1-0 all-time against the Panthers, as the only prior meeting was in the semifinals of the 2019 Elite Eight, which was also in Columbus. LCU was the No.5-seed and Drury was the No.1-seed of that tournament. LCU won the game 69-60.

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

Allie Schulte 1gp – 13 pts/g, 2/3 3pt fg%
Juliana Robertson 1gp -  8pts, 6 reb
Madelyn Turner 1gp – 2pts, 1 steal

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. DRURY
March. 27, 2019 (Columbus, Ohio) – LCU: 69 - DU:60
Lubbock Christian University was able to overcome 29 turnovers with a 62.5% shooting percentage inside the arc, and the No.24/25 Lady Chaparrals upset No.1 Drury 69-60 to advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Game.  LCU will go for their second NCAA National Title Friday at 6 p.m. (Central) against No.2 Southwestern Oklahoma State University inside Alumni Hall.
 
LCU was able to overcome the defensive obstacles by a Drury squad entering the game forcing 1,079 turnovers on the season. They did with a defense of their own. The Lady Chaps held the Lady Panthers to shoot 36.2% from the field and forced them into 22 turnovers. There were 51 combined turnovers in the game. LCU's 29 were the most since producing 31 at Tarleton State on Nov. 18, 2010. 
 
Drury opened the game 2-of-3 from the field and had a 4-0 lead, but would then go nearly eight minutes without a field goal and closed the quarter making one field goal on the final nine attempts of the quarter. Meanwhile, LCU would go on a 12-0 run, which included a LCU having a stretch in which they were 4-of-5 form the field with three of the field goals from Maddi Chitsey. Chitsey tallied six points in the first quarter and LCU led 12-8 at the close of the quarter.
 
Drury converted on turnovers in the second quarter (10-5 scoring advantage in points off turnovers) and LCU was unable to pull away despite 5-of-7 shooting from inside the arc in the arc. LCU did receive production from Olivia Robertson , who tallied eight points in the quarter nd helped LCU to a 27-22 halftime lead.
 
Allie Schulte opened the second half with back-to-back three-pointers and LCU opened the second half making their first five shot attempts. The string of successful makes helped LCU expand the lead to 43-32 with 4:29 left in the quarter. An 8-2 run capped by a Julianne Robertson put-back off her own miss pushed the LCU lead to 47-32 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
 
LCU led 50-39 to start the fourth quarter and their lead was quickly tested. An 8-2 run by Drury cut LCU's lead to 52-47 4:31 into the fourth quarter. LCU was able to keep their distance by success from the free-throw line. The Lady Chaps opened the game 15-of-15 from the free-throw line garnered 11 points from the line in the fourth quarter. Drury was unable to get a strong rally going late, closing the game 4-of-17 (23.5%) over the final 6:46 of the game.
 
Maddi Chitsey was one of four Lady Chaps in double figures offensively. She led LCU with 17 points. Olivia Robertson (15 points), Allie Schulte (13 points) and Bobbi Chitsey (11 points) also contributed for the Lady Chaps. Bobbi Chitsey was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line for LCU. LCU was 52.4% from the field. They struggled outside (2-of-10, 20%), but made up for it with their 62.5% shooting inside the arc. LCU also outrebounded Drury 31-28, with Robertson leading LCU with seven rebounds.
 
Drury had their potential dream season end with a 35-1 record. WBCA Division II Player of the Year Hailey Diestelkamp led all scorers with 18 points and also posted seven boards. Paige Robinson also provided the Lady Panthers with 10 points.
 
LCU (31-5) advances to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Game for the second time in program history and LCU is making their second trip in a four-year span (this is LCU's fourth season eligible for NCAA postseason play). They play Southwestern Oklahoma State, who they fell to 77-75 on Dec. 3 in Weatherford, Okla. The championship game will remain in Columbus, Ohio Friday at Alumni Hall.