ARKANSAS FORT SMITH (2-9, 0-2) at No.6 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (12-2, 1-1) January 6, 2021 • 5:30 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) TICKETS: Click Here 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), Jason Speegle (Color Analyst) LCU Social Media:
	ARKANSAS FORT SMITH LADY LIONS (2-9, 0-2) Location: Fort Smith, Ark. Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Ryan McAdams (Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo in 2004) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF)
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (12-2, 1-1) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF)

BACK HOME, BUT MINUS A GAME
No.6 Lubbock Christian University was looking forward to returning home to Rip Griffin Center for their first Lone Star Conference homestand of the season, but Oklahoma Christian was unable to complete their road trip this week, as they postponed their game at Eastern New Mexico Thursday and to LCU Saturday. With the postponement, the Lady Chaps will host Arkansas Fort Smith Thursday for their lone game of the week.
 
CHAP NOTES

• > Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 37 three-pointers, averaging 2.64 per game (second in the conference and ranks 42^nd nationally). The 37 three-pointers ranks fifth in the nation and leads the LSC (Megan Voit of Mary leads the nation with 45). Duncan, who is 11 points shy of 900 career points, is second on the team averaging 12.1 points per game. She is 12 three-pointers away from her 235^th three-pointer, which will place her third in program history and passing Sierra Lovorn (Wilcox), who had 234 three-pointers from 2005-2009.
• > The Lady Chaps have claimed the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor in four of the seven weeks the award has been issued. Allie Schulte has received the honor twice, with teammates Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson also receiving the award. Overall for Offensive and Defensive, LCU has claimed five of the 14 honors the LSC has issued this season (four defensive and one offensive). Although not recognized by the LSC, World Exposure Report recognized Schulte as their Division II Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her performance last week with 15 combined steals.
• > By a margin of four points, Schulte leads the squad in scoring with an average of 12.4 points per game. She also leads the team is assists (49) and steals (44). Her 49 assists ranks second in the conference, with a pace of 3.5 per game (11th in the LSC), and her 44 steals leads the conference and is second nationally. Schulte moved ahead of Sherry Brown (271, 1979-83) into second all-time in program history with 273 career steals Saturday. She has 15 steals over her last two games, with a career-high eight steals Saturday at Texas A&M International. The eight steals were the most by a Lady Chaps member since Tabitha Quibty-Sellers had eight steals on Nov. 18, 2002. The eight-steal performance was part of the team's 21 steals, which was the highest steals total by the Lady Chaps since swiping 21 on Dec. 9, 2004 against Southwestern Assemblies of God (SAGU). 
• > Laynee Burr, who has two performances of at least 18 points this season, is averaging 8.2 points per game. A member of the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic at the Trailhead All-Tournament Team selection, Burr enters Thursday's play tied for 14^th in the conference in assists with 38 on the season.
• > LCU opened the season making their first 14 free-throw attempts and are 79.3% (172/217) from the free-throw line, which ranks 14th nationally. From their game against Tampa (Nov. 7) to their game at Colorado Christian (Nov.12), in which they made 13 consecutive free-throws to start the game, LCU made a sequence of 17 consecutive free-throws. They topped that mark in their opening home stand of the season, making 43 consecutive free-throws (They made 28 straight free-throws in their game against Lander as part of the sequence). Schulte is 46-of-52 (88.5%) from the free-throw line on the season, which is 25th nationally.
• > Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson have provided LCU strong defensive play inside the perimeter. Robertson ranks fifth in the LSC in rebounds (95) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (5.4). Foster, who had a career-high 20-point performance over Cameron (LCU's last home game), leads LCU in blocks (9), with Robertson ranking second with seven blocks.
• > LCU is fourth nationally in turnovers…or lack thereof, as they average 11.7 per game. The stat has Allie Schulte second in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.13. As a team, LCU ranks 35th nationally and leading the LSC for team assist/turnover ratio (1.10).

 
D-Up!
LCU defensively has held opponents to an average of 52.1 points a game, which ranks ninth nationally. Lady Chap opponents have been held to under 50 points in seven of their 14 games this season.
 
HOMEBODIES
LCU is 4-0 in home contests this season, with Ashton Duncan leading the squad averaging 11.5 points per game inside Rip Griffin Center. Two of LCU's four home contests (and wins) have come against nationally ranked programs, as they defeated No.1 Lander and No.20 Daemen (Elite Eight qualifiers from last season) in their first two home games of the season. LCU is shooting 43.1% at home this season, and shooting 32.9% from long distance at home. The Lady Chaps have excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 86.3% (69/80) from the free-throw line this season, as Allie Schulte is 18-of-18 from the stripe at home. Defense has been a strong-point for LCU at home this season, as they have held opponents to a 36.4% shooting mark from the floor (24.6% from three-point range). Foes are also 65.5% (38/58) from the free-throw line.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU went 13-0 at home season, culminating with the LSC Championships and becoming the first team since 2007 to win the LSC Championship tournament on a campus venue. They are 4-0 at home this season, which has their active home win streak sitting at 95 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
95 - 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
95 – LCU (Division II)
43 – North Georgia (Division II)
39 – Hope (Division III)
 
EYE-OPENING
The 2021-22 season marks LCU's ninth since leaving the NAIA, and heading into Thursday's action, LCU is 226-31 in that span (87.9%). In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 20-1 all-time.

NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Lady Chaps claimed the No.1 spot in the WBCA's National Top-25 Preseason Poll for the first time in program history this year, and also for the first time they were the favorites in both the WBCA and D2SIDA preseason polls. LCU fell to CSU Pueblo in Lakewood, Colo., which ended their 39-game win streak and knocked them out of the No.1 spot. For three consecutive polls, LCU was not in the No.1 spot, but they worked their way back to the top spot in the WBCA poll. Their return to No.1 status lasted through two WBCA and one D2SIDA poll before their loss at Texas A&M-Kingsville resulted in them showing up at No.6 (WBCA) and No.7 (D2SIDA) in this week's polls. Overall this season, LCU has been No.1 in three WBCA polls and two D2SIDA polls.
 
On Dec.14, both LCU women's and men's basketball programs were each No.1 in their respective polls, marking the first time in LCU history in which LCU's men's and women's basketball programs were each ranked No.1 at the same time.
 
SO ARE SOME OTHERS
On Nov. 20, LCU defeated No.20 Daemen, marking their third game of the season against a nationally ranked program. LCU went 6-0 against nationally ranked programs last season and 4-2 in 2019-20 against the nations ranked foes. This season, LCU is 3-0 against ranked opponents, as they have also defeated No.11 Tampa (Nov. 7 in Billings, Mont.) and No.1 Lander (Nov. 19 in Lubbock).
 
STARS IN THE CONFERENCE
LCU is 33-4 all-time in Lone Star Conference play and they had a 22-game win streak snapped Friday at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Lady Chaps went 13-0 in LSC play last season and their previous conference loss (before Friday) was Jan. 30, 2020 at Texas A&M-Commerce. LCU is 1-1 in conference play this season, with Allie Schulte averaging 15.0 points per game. She is also averaging 7.5 steals per conference contest. LCU is averaging 18 steals per conference game and have forced opponents into an average of 23 turnovers per game.
 
CLOSING THE CALENDAR
The 2021 calendar year was a good one for the Lady Chaps (pushing COVID-19 matters aside…again). In 2021, LCU claimed their second LSC Championship title and third NCAA Division II national title. Their New Year's Eve loss was only the second loss on the 2021 calendar year for LCU. They concluded 2021 with a 32-2 record (94.1%). LCU had a 19-3 (86.4%) record for all games played in 2020, and they went 22-1 (95.7%) in 2020, 29-5 (85.3%) in 2019, 26-5 (83.9%) in 2017, 29-10 (74.4%) in 2016 and 24-4 (85.7%) in 2015.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT UAFS
1 > The Lady Lions enter the week 2-9 on the season. They have dropped their last five games, which include LSC home losses (0-2) to West Texas A&M and Cameron.
2 > UAFS, who entered the season No.14 in the LSC Preseason Poll, has Ashanti Eden leading the team in LSC contests. She averages 16.5 points per game. Paige Elston also averages 14.5 points per conference contest.  
3 > The meeting Thursday will mark LCU's first against UAFS with Ryan McAdams at the helm. The first-year head coach spent the past four seasons as assistant coach at New Mexico State.
4 > Games involving UAFS this season have averaged a combined 41 free-throw attempts this season (Their opponents average 21 free-throw attempts per game). Ashanti Eden (49, 13th) and Paige Elston (45,15^th) each rank in the top-15 in the LSC in free-throw attempts.
5 > UAFS ranks 18^th nationally and third in the LSC in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 16.4 per contest. Mar'Shalia Lollie ranks 19^th nationally and second in. the LSC by averaging 4.2 offensive rebounds per game. She averages 10.5 overall rebounds per game in conference play and 8.2 rebounds per game overall this season.

THE SERIES AGAINST UAFS
LCU has won the last six meetings and has a 13-1 all-time advantage over UAFS. All meetings have been since joining the Heartland Conference. LCU is 6-0 all-time in Lubbock against UAFS and the two teams have not played in Lubbock since Jan. 19, 2019 (LCU won 86-46), as only one of the past five meetings have been in the Hub City.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. UAFS
Here is a look at LCU's top three active leaders career vs. UAFS:

Ashton Duncan 3gp – 6.7 pts/g, 5/9 3-pt fg (55.6%)
Laynee Burr 3gp – 4.0 pts/g, 2/4 3-pt fg (50.0%)
Allie Schulte 6gp – 3.7 pts/g, 7/18 fg (38.9%)

PRIOR MEETING VS. UAFS
FORT SMITH, Ark. (February 13, 2020) - Emma Middleton matched a career high in rebounds, but needed one more to complete a double-double, as her 18 points and nine rebounds led No.9 Lubbock Christian University to a 71-63 Lone Star Conference victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night inside Stubblefield Center.

Middleton was 6-of-9 inside the arc in the contest, and was revved up early, posting 10 points in the opening quarter of play. Six of the points came in a 10-1 run in the opening 5:37 of the game, as UAFS missed their first six shot attempts. UAFS would hit five of their next seven attempts, but LCU ended the quarter with the final four points for a 20-13 lead.

LCU had their best defensive quarter in the second quarter, holding UAFS to 35.3% (6/17) from the field in the frame. It did not appear it was heading that direction to start the quarter as the Lady Lions opened the quarter on a 6-0 run over the opening 2:25 of the quarter to cut LCU's lead to 20-19. Middleton ended the UAFS run with a deuce and Channing Cunyus followed with a three-pointer to help LCU respond on a 9-2 run for a 29-21 lead. LCU received 14 points in the opening half from Middleton and LCU led 35-27 at the half.

Even when not scoring, LCU was scoring. LCU had a 1-of-5 shooting stretch to start the third quarter (they did not miss more than two consecutive shots following the sequence) , but still outscored UAFS 4-2 in the opening four minutes of the half. Middleton had the first four points of the half and Madelyn Turner nailed a three-pointer to help LCU to a 7-0 run for a 42-29 lead with 5:49 left in the period. Maddi Chitsey provided LCU their biggest lead of the game (49-34) with a three-pointer as 4:26 remained in the quarter. LCU produced their second-lowest three-point total of the season (four in the game), but they hit three in the quarter, with Ashton Duncan closing the quarter with a triple for a 57-44 lead heading into the final frame.

The Lady Chaps shot 52.4% (11/21) in the second half and received seven points off 3-of-4 shooting from Caitlyn Cunyus in the fourth quarter to help hold off UAFS. The Lady Lions never cut LCU's lead inside an eight-point margin and had their four-game win streak snapped.

Middleton was joined in double figures by Chitsey (14 points) and Caitlyn Cunyus (11 points). The Lady Chaps, who were 51.1% (23/45) from the field, also took advantage of 25 free-throw attempts by making 21 attempts. The Lady Chaps had not had more than 13 free-throw attempts in their last six games and the 21 points from the line matched their second-most in a game this season. Middleton (6-of-6) and Chitsey (6-of-5) were a combined 12-of-13 from the line, as LCU outscored UAFS 21-10 from the line (second-highest margin of the season).

Tamera Gulley did complete a double-double for UAFS with 14 rebounds and 11 points. Ashanti Eden led the Lady Lions with 19 points and Leiloni Culley contributed 15 points. UAFS fell to12-11 overall and 8-8 in LSC play.