LSC CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINALS No.4-Seed CAMERON (11-6) at No.1-Seed No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (16-0) March 5, 2021 • 4 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) TICKETS: Click Here (Online Advanced Purchase Only) 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), TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Click Here LCU Social Media:
	CAMERON AGGIES (11-6) Location: Lawton, Okla. Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Emma Andrews (Fresno State, 2011) Roster | Stats | Game Notes
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (16-0) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes

A STEP DEEPER
The semifinals and finals of the 2021 Lone Star Conference Women's Basketball Championships are all inside Rip Griffin Center, with Cameron (No.4-seed), No.1 Lubbock Christian (No.1-seed), No.10 Texas A&M-Commerce (No.2-seed) and No.22 West Texas A&M (No.3-seed) fighting to receive the automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals, which is hosted by WTAMU in Canyon, Texas. The four teams in Lubbock all won their quarterfinal contest on-campus, with LCU (as the top remaining seed) hosting the semifinals Friday and the championship game Saturday (3 p.m. tip).
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat Cameron, they will improve to 17-0 on the season and will advance to the tournament championship game to host either Texas A&M-Commerce or West Texas A&M Saturday at 3 p.m.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Aggies, 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.
SENIORS AND THE SENOR
The Lone Star Conference announced their women's basketball All-Conference award winners and recognized each of Lubbock Christian University's five senior starters, along with Steve Gomez, who claimed Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors. Allie Schulte (First Team), Ashton Duncan (Second Team), Emma Middleton (Second Team), Juliana Robertson (Third Team) and Madelyn Turner (Honorable Mention) each claimed All-Conference honors. In addition, Middleton and Schulte were also named to the All-Defensive Team and Schulte also claimed All-Academic Team accolades.
 
Schulte claims her second LSC All-Conference selection and her first nod on the First Team. She leads the team in scoring (14.6 points per game) and leads the LSC in assist/turnover ratio (2.50, 16^th nationally), field goal percentage (60.1%, eighth nationally), steals (46, 22^nd nationally) and steals per game (2.88, 17^th nationally). She also ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (85.5%), seventh in field goals (83) and 11^th in assists (55) and assists per game (3.4). The guard from Nazareth, Texas surpassed 1,000 points in her LCU career this season and became a two-time All-Academic Team selection with her recognition this season for her academic success.
 
Duncan also claims her second LSC All-Conference honor (claimed Third Team last season). The Lubbock, Texas native is averaging 11.6 points per game for the Lady Chaps. She ranks second in the LSC in three-pointers (46, 29^th nationally), three-pointers per game (2.8, 13^th nationally) and three-point shooting percentage (45.1, 18^th nationally). Duncan, who serves as LCU's SAAC President, matched the LCU single-game record and set the Rip Griffin Center with eight three-pointers on Dec. 11, 2020.
 
Middleton ranks second on the squad in scoring (12.2 points per game) and she claims her first court performance honors in her career. The Lubbock, Texas native leads the LSC in blocks (31, 23^rd nationally) and blocks per game (1.94, 31^st nationally). She also has 24 steals on the season and is shooting 75.9% from the free-throw line. She was the only player the season to claim LSC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors on the same week, and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Week recipient this season.
 
Robertson, who has claimed a pair of LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors over her career, claims her first All-Conference Team honor. The Kerrville, Texas native averages 6.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and has 11 blocks on the season.
 
Turner also claims her first on-court performance honor from the LSC. She averages 6.2 points, 2.6 assists and has 21 steals on the campaign. The guard from Abernathy, Texas is third on the squad in three-pointers with 20 on the season.
 
Gomez, in his 18^th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps, claims his first Coach of the Year honor in the Lone Star Conference. The honor is his sixth Coach of the Year honor at the conference level. The 2016 WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year honoree last claimed a conference honor in 2019, as he won his fourth Heartland Conference Coach of the Year award. His lone honor in the Sooner Athletic Conference came during the 2005-2006 season. Gomez, who has led the Lady Chaps to 89 consecutive home wins (a NCAA Division II women's basketball record), has a career record of 441-125 (77.9%) all at LCU.

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 was 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 4-0 all-time in the LSC Championships, with three wins coming in their debut at last season's tournament in Frisco, Texas, where they won the tournament title. 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.
 
Channing Cunyus is trying to cover in her sister's absence this season, as she had a 14-point career-high performance off a career-best four three-pointers Tuesday. Emma Middleton also had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Schulte led all scorers with 18 points Tuesday. Schulte leads LCU all-time in LSC Championship play, averaging 12.8 points in four games.

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 weekend ranked 16^th in steals per game (11.7). The Lady Chaps have had at least 10 steals in 13 of their 16 games. Allie Schulte leads the team in steals (46) and averages 2.9 per game to lead the LSC (16^th nationally).
 
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU rank third in the LSC in three-point field goals (129), averaging 8.1 per game (35^th in the nation). They average 8.1 three-pointers per game on the road and 7.7 at home. The Lady Chaps success rate of 36.6% shooting from outside is 17th nationally. Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 46 three-pointers (30^th nationally and second in the LSC), ranking 13th nationally with a rate of 2.88 per game (second in LSC). Schulte sits just below the minimums in three-point shooting percentage, and has a mark of 46.7%, and Duncan ranks second in the conference at 45.1%. 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 10th nationally in field goal percentage with a mark of 60.1%. From long range, she is shooting 46.7%. In 16 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 116.
-Is five assists away from 300 career assists.
-Actively ranks 30^th in career assists with 295 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 Cameron Friday, are 11-0 this season at home and with their active home win streak sitting at 89 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 (and a 1-0 mark in LSC 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
89 - 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 
89 – 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 14.1 points per game. Emma Middleton (12.3) and Ashton Duncan (12.1) also average double figures at home. LCU has a 56-13 advantage in blocks and a 121-48 advantage in steals at home, and they have held opponents to 31.9% shooting. The Lady Chaps are shooting 48.9% on the Rip Griffin Center floor this season, with a 37.9% shooting mark from outside. Duncan is shooting 52.4% from outside at home. She is 33-of-63 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 16^th in blocks (84) and are ninth in blocks per game (5.2), leading the LSC in the per-game category. Emma Middleton (31, second in the conference and 25^th nationally), Whitney Cox (13, 12th in the LSC), Channing Cunyus (13, 12^th in the LSC) and Juliana Robertson (11, 15^th in the conference) place LCU with four players in the top-15 in the LSC in blocks. Middleton also leads the LSC and 32^nd nationally with 1.94 blocks per game.
 
DISTRIBUTION
With a mark of 1.20, LCU ranks 14^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio. LCU's 15.5 assists per game ranks 37^th in the nation, with team leader Allie Schulte (averaging 3.4 per game) leading the LSC and ranking 15th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.50). Madelyn Turner (2.6) and Juliana Robertson (2.4) are also averaging over 2.0 assists per game. LCU ranks 18th nationally in turnovers per game (leads the LSC) with a mark of 12.9 per game (they rank 14^th in turnovers forced and fourth in turnover margin).
 
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Along with ranking 16^th nationally in steals per game, LCU's defense is holding opponents to 45.2 points per game (leads the nation). From the floor, opponents are shooting 31.8% (third nationally).
 
CHARITY STRIPE
LCU has found success at the free-throw line this season, ranking second nationally, shooting 81.4% from the free-throw line. Allie Schulte leads LCU at the charity stripe with an 85.5% free-throw shooting percentage (47/55), which ranks fourth in the LSC.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT CAMERON
1 > The Aggies are coming off a 13-16 campaign in 2019-20, finishing 12-10 in the Lone Star Conference and a share of second in their division with a 6-4 record. They improved to a 10-6 regular season mark this season and were fourth in the point rating system. They are 11-6 after an 87-76 win in Lawton, Okla. Tuesday in quarterfinal action over Midwestern State.
2 > Cameron was preseason picked seventh in the LSC Preseason Poll. They went 3-3 in divisional play in the North Division, and finished second (by record) in the division, which also contains Arkansas-Fort Smith, Oklahoma Christian, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's. Cameron will mark the first program from the North Division LCU has faced this season.
3 > Tuesday, Cameron won their first Lone Star Conference Tournament game since 2002 (now 2-14 all-time in the tournament), beating Midwestern State 87-76. They made 15 made three-pointers (one shy of the tournament record) and produced 17 steals in the win. Karley Miller scored 18 points in the win.
4 > Junior Maighan Hedge was named both the Academic Player of the Year and a First Team All-LSC performer. Sophomore Stephanie Peterson landed on the league's Third Team and was selected to the All-Academic team. Also, Whitney Outon was recognized as honorable mention All-LSC and Katie King landed on the All-Freshman team.
5 > Cameron leads the LSC averaging 9.0 three-pointers per game, which ranks 16^th nationally. Maighan Hedge leads the team averaging 2.3 per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST CAMERON
The head-to-head series between LCU and Cameron dates back to 1985 and Cameron holds a 9-3 all-time series advantage. The two programs completed a home-and-home two-year series in 2017-18 and 2018-19, with Cameron topping LCU 66-62 in Lawton on Dec. 8, 2018. LCU won the first game 67-54 on Dec. 16, 2017 in Lubbock, which marked their first encounter since a meeting in Lubbock on Dec. 5, 2000. Since joining the LSC, LCU is 1-0 against Cameron, with LCU claiming an 89-74 win in Lawton on Dec. 19, 2019. LCU is 2-3 all-time in Lubbock against Cameron.

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

Channing Cunyus 1gp – 11.0 pts/g, 4/5 fg
Allie Schulte 3gp - 7.3 pts/g, 9/13 fg
Laynee Burr 1gp - 7.0 pts/g,

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. CAMERON
Dec. 19, 2019 (Lawton, Okla.) - LCU:89 - CU:74
No.1 Lubbock Christian University's Maddi Chitsey led a foursome of Lady Chaparrals in double figures with 16 points, and their season-high 55.4% shooting from the field was needed to top an eight-three-pointer filled 24-point performance by Ava Battese en route to an 89-74 Lone Star Conference victory over Cameron inside Aggie Gym. Cameron knocked down 16 three-pointers, which is a single-game record by an LCU opponent. The win was their first-ever win over Cameron inside Aggie Gym (1-6).

For a second consecutive game, LCU never trailed and used a hot start to get the game's early momentum. The Lady Chaps was 10-of-13 shooting (76.9%) in the opening quarter. They opened the contest with an 11-3 run, which was part of a 19-6 start to the contest. LCU made eight consecutive field goals over a 9-of-10 shooting stretch. The Lady Chaps led 24-14 after the opening quarter.

They had a 22-11 scoring advantage in the second quarter and ended the half on a 14-3 run for a 46-25 halftime lead. Chitsey posted 10 points in the opening half. LCU was 64.3% (18/28) from the field in the half, with a 61.5% (8-of-13) shooting mark from long distance. LCU hit eight three-pointers in the first half, with six different Lady Chaps connecting on three-pointers. Cameron committed 12 turnovers in the opening half and it led to a 16-2 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers.

Chitsey, Ashton Duncan and Emma Middleton each had six points in the third quarter and a 10-3 third quarter run helped LCU build their lead to the game's largest at 65-32 with 4:34 left in the quarter. LCU led 75-43 at quarter's close.

Caitlyn Cunyus was LCU lone player with over 21 minutes played (23:24). With the large-margin lead, LCU turned to their depth in the final quarter. Heading into the final quarter 11-of-20 (55%) from long range, LCU was 1-of-6 from long distance in the fourth quarter. They shot 33.3% (4-of-12) in the quarter, while Cameron was 11-of-22 (55%) from the field in the quarter and connected on eight three-pointers (8-of-15, 53.3%). Cameron out-scored LCU 31-14 in the quarter.

Chitsey led LCU with 16 points off a 6-of-10 shooting performance from the field. Allie Schulte (13 points), Channing Cunyus (11 points) and Caitlyn Cunyus (10 points) also had double-digit-point performances, with Schulte also leading the team with five rebounds. Channing Cunyus' 11 points marked a career high. Caitlyn Cunyus finished with a plus/minus of +33. The Lady Chaps finished the game with a season-high 55.4% shooting mark (31/56) and it was their first game to top 50% this season. LCU was 12-of-26 (46.2%) from three-point range and the 12 three-pointers matched a season high. They had a 34-16 scoring advantage in paint scoring (18-2 in the first half), and both the overall points for and against were the highest for a Lady Chaps contest this season.

Cameron, dropping to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in LSC play, finished the game 40% (24/60) from the field and 16-of-35 from long distance (45.7%). The Aggies made 10 three-pointers in the second half, with eight made in the final quarter. The 16 three-pointers topped the prior record of 15 by Southwestern Oklahoma State from Dec. 13, 2016. Battese was 8-of-14 from three-point range and was one of three Aggies with at least 17 points, as Maighan Hedge and Amaka Nwakamma each had 17 points.