ARKANSAS FORT SMITH (2-5) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (5-2)
December 3, 2022 • 1:00 PM
Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE OPENING WEEKEND
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
UAFS	Lubbock, Texas	Sat. Dec. 3	1 p.m.	Video	Stats

CLOSING THE OPENING WEEK OF LSC PLAY
Lubbock Christian University closes out their opening weekend of Lone Star Conference play Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip against Arkansas Fort Smith inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps head into the contest with a five-game win streak (5-2 overall record) and a 1-0 LSC record.
 
HOW MANY?
LCU used a 30-5 advantage in points-off-turnovers and career highs of 19 points from Maci Maddox and 16 points from Shaylee Stovall to open their Lone Star Conference schedule with an 88-61 win over Oklahoma Christian Thursday night. The free-throw-filled game, featuring 74 free-throws, resulted in LCU's NCAA active-leading 108th consecutive win inside Rip Griffin Center.

Twenty-one different players attempted at least one free-throw in the game, as OC had 40 of the game's 74 attempts from the line. LCU out-scored OC 24-23 from the line. The two teams combined for 32 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone and the 74 combined free-throws in the game were the most attempts in an LCU contest since LCU combined for 79 with Tarleton State on November 22, 2011.
 
WILL AND GRACE
Grace Foster is off to a solid season start for the Lady Chaps. Sprinkled throughout the statistical leaderboard in the LSC, she co-leads the LSC in double-doubles (tied for 17^th nationally) and leads in rebounds (72, which is 13^th nationally) and rebounds per game (10.3, which is 25^th nationally). On the offensive side, Foster leads the LSC in free-throw percentage (96.8%, seventh nationally) and is third in the LSC in scoring (17.7 points per game, which is 71^st nationally) and three-point shooting percentage (52.2%, which is 20^th nationally).

SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> Grace Foster missed her fifth free-throw attempt during a game at Southwestern Oklahoma State (Nov. 21), which marked her first (and so-far only) miss from the line this season. She had made 24 consecutive free-throw attempts to start the season and 40 consecutive free-throws dating back to last season. That is the most consecutive made free-throws since Nicole Hampton made 36 consecutive free-throws during the 2015-16 season. Hampton holds the program record of 62 consecutive free-throws made, which was also a NAIA Division I record. There are six players in NCAA Division II (qualifiers) with a 100% free-throw shooting percentage and Foster is seventh nationally with a 96.8% (30/31) free-throw shooting percentage.
> LCU, finishing with a 34.8% three-point shooting percentage last season, is shooting 36.0% from the perimeter this season, which ranks fourth in the LSC. Opposing teams are shooting 27.3% from three-point range, which defensively places LCU fourth in the LSC in perimeter defense. Opponents have launched 150 three-point attempts, compared to 100 by LCU.   
> Maci Maddox has double-figure point production in five of the prior six games and enters Saturday's game averaging 12.1 points per contest. She leads the LSC with 32 assists (18^th nationally) and second with 4.6 assists per game (45^th nationally). Defensively, Maddox ranks second in the LSC in steals per game (3.0) and in steals (21, 12^th nationally).
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 39.6 rebounds per game, posting a high of 46 against Missouri Southern State (Nov. 5). LCU has not averaged over 40 rebounds in a season since averaging 40.3 during the 2015-16 season. Grace Foster (10.3), Audrey Robertson (5.4) and Reese Schumann (5.0) are all averaging 5.0-or-more rebounds per game. LCU is fourth in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game (29.9, 28^th nationally) and seventh in overall rebounds per game (39.6).
> LCU has a 141-91 scoring advantage from the line this season against their opposition. They have at least 20 points scored from the line in four of their six prior games. On the campaign, LCU is shooting 75.0% (118/154) from the line, which leads the LSC and ranks 56^th nationally. The Lady Chaps rank fifth nationally and is second in the LSC in free-throws made per game (20.1). Grace Foster is 30-of-31 (96.8%) from the line this season to lead LCU from the line. Audrey Robertson (32-of-41, 78.0%, 14^th in the LSC) and Shaylee Stovall (22-of-29, 75.9%, 17^th in LSC) and are each shooting at least 75.0% from the line (of those reaching minimum requirements). LCU's opponents went from 77.5% from the line (was second in the LSC) to 70.5% following Thursday's game (ranks seventh in the LSC).
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 76.1 points per contest (averaged 65.9 per game last season), which ranks second in the LSC (38^th nationally), and they have a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster (17.7), Maci Maddox (12.1) and Audrey Robertson (11.0) lead the average scoring pace for the Lady Chaps.
>Defensively, Lubbock Christian is second in the LSC in blocks per game (4.3, 27^th nationally) and is seventh in steals per game (8.4). Reese Schumann leads LCU in blocks (11), ranking third in the LSC (24^th nationally), and Grace Foster ranks fifth in the LSC with 10 blocks. Schumann's average of 1.6 blocks per game ranks fifth in the LSC.

CONFERENCE OPENERS
Thursday marked LCU's fourth conference-opener in the Lone Star Conference. It was LCU's 29th conference opener (six Heartland Conference and 19 Sooner Athletic Conference openers prior to joining the LSC) and they improved to 3-1 in LSC openers (went 11-8 all-time in SAC openers and 5-1 in HC openers). They are now 17-3 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez. They have won 16 of their prior 18 consecutive conference openers with Thursday's result.

HOME NUMBERS
The Lady Chaps are 4-0 on the homecourt this season and averaging a margin of 19.8 points outscoring their opposition. Averaging 75.0 points at home, LCU has a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster is nearly averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, as Maci Maddox (15.0) and Audrey Robertson (11.0) complete the trio of double-figure point producers at home. Maddox is also averaging 4.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game at home. Foster is 20-of-20 (100%) from the free-throw line, as LCU is 73.7% from the line at home (as a team) and outscoring opponents 87-55 from the line at home.

SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU, who went 13-0 at home last season, is 4-0 at home this season, which has their active home win streak sitting at 108 games (it 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 4-0 mark in LSC postseason play), has also won 82 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 30-0 in LSC home games).
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
108 - 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
108 – LCU (Division II)
32 – Christopher Newport (Division III)
29 – Jackson State (Division I), Thomas More (Division II)
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 108 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
Division III – 121 – Amherst Jan. 31, 2009-Feb. 6, 2016
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT UAFS
1 > The Lady Lions are 2-5 on the season, entering Lubbock riding a three-game win streak. They opened the week Thursday falling 79-69 at West Texas A&M. UAFS is coming off a 7-18 mark a season ago, going 4-10 in the Lone Star Conference for a 12^th place spot in the standings.
2 > Arkansas Fort Smith was preseason picked to finish 12th in the LSC preseason poll. 
3 > All five losses this season for the Lady Lions have been on the road. They went 4-10 on the road last season and carry an eight-game road losing streak into Saturday's action. Included in the mix was a season-ending loss in the LSC Championship in Lubbock to LCU on Mar. 1, 2023 (84-67 win for LCU).
4 > UAFS is second in the LSC in three-point shooting percentage with a mark of 38.1%. Riley Hays ranks second in the LSC in three-pointers per game (3.0) and is second in the LSC in three-point shooting percentage (51.2%, 23^rd nationally).
5 > Aaliyah Prince ranks 14th in the LSC with a pace of 14.6 points per contest. She leads the LSC (32^nd nationally) with 101 field goal attempts, and ranks 10^th in field goal shooting with a mark of 39.6%.

THE SERIES AGAINST UAFS
LCU has won the last eight meetings and has a 15-1 all-time advantage over UAFS. All meetings have been since joining the Heartland Conference. LCU is 8-0 all-time in Lubbock against UAFS, including their prior meeting (Mar. 1, 2022), as LCU defeated UAFS 84-67 in the LSC Championships (on-campus opening round).
 
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS VS. UAFS
Grace Foster 2 GP – 14.5 pts avg., 4.5 rebounds, 3/5 3-FG
Audrey Spurgin 1 GP – 7 points, 3 rebounds
Audrey Robertson 2 GP – 6.0 pts avg., 4 assists
 
PREVIOUS MEETING VS. UAFS
LUBBOCK, Texas (March 1, 2022) - No.5-Seed Lubbock Christian University shot 67% from the field in the second half and received double-figure production from five different players, as the No.10 Lady Chaparrals advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Championship (in Frisco, Texas) after an 84-67 First Round victory over Arkansas Fort Smith inside Rip Griffin Center Tuesday evening. LCU advances to face No.4-seed Angelo State Friday at 8:30 p.m. inside Comerica Center in Frisco.

LCU shot 55.1% from the field in the contest, but the start of the game did not show any signs of what would turn out to be one of the Lady Chaps best shooting performances of the season. Allie Schulte opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer, but the Lady Chaps followed by missing their next five shot attempts. The Lady Chaps trailed 5-3 before erupting with a 10-0 run for a 13-5 lead. UAFS had six points from the free-throw line in the opening quarter, and their production at the line helped chip away at the LCU lead. An 11-4 run helped the Lady Lions cut LCU's lead to 17-16 inside the final minute of the quarter. Schulte book-ended the quarter with her only field goals of the quarter and led LCU with five points in the quarter to provide LCU a 19-16 lead.

Kalina Foster hit a three-pointer 1:06 into the second quarter for UAFS to tie the game at 21-21. The Lions were unable to take the lead, as Laynee Burr hit a jumper and ignited a 9-0 run, which was part of a 16-1scoring surge to give LCU a 37-22 lead with 3:43 left in the half. UAFS went a span of 5:37 without a field goal during the LCU run, as Grace Foster had the last seven points of the run for LCU. The Lions responded by holding LCU off the scoreboard the final 3:43 of the half and went on a 7-0 run to cut LCU's lead to 37-29 heading into the break.

Mar'Shalia Lollie led the Lions and all scorers in the first half with 12 points. Foster led LCU with nine points in the first half (seven scored in the second quarter).

The big runs continued in the game in the second half. Schulte continued her trend of scoring the opening bucket of the quarter, scoring the first five points of the half. Ashton Duncan followed with a three-pointer, and the 8-0 run put LCU up 45-29 two minutes into the third quarter. The 8-0 run was part of a 12-2 run, but the 18-point lead (49-31) was short-lived. Riley Hayes dialed up a three-pointer for UAFS and it sparked a 15-2 Lions run to cut LCU's lead to 51-46 with 2:52 remaining. Channing Cunyus halted the Lions run with the next four points for LCU and the Lady Chaps would lead 58-50 heading into the fourth quarter.

Burr has vital for the Lady Chaps in the fourth quarter, as she had eight of her 10 points in the game tallied in the frame. She opened the fourth quarter with the first six points of the quarter, which put LCU up 64-50 with 8:21 remaining. Schulte connected on a three-pointer to start an 11-3 run, as the Lions went a span of 4:34 without a field goal during the run.

Duncan connected on her fifth three-pointer of the game with 3:10 remaining and LCU would go without a field goal for the remainder of the game. They were not done scoring though, scoring their final six points from the free-throw line. They led as much as 22 points on two occasions before the Lions closed the game on a 5-0 run.

LCU was 7-of-9 (77.8%) from three-point range in the second half and finished the game 52.4% (11/21) from long range. The season-high mark from in their best outside shooting mark since shooting 52.9% on Mar. 13, 2021 against Cameron. Duncan finished the game 5-of-6 from three-point range, and her five three-pointers matched tied for the most by an LCU player in a LSC Championship game (matched her own mark of five on Mar. 5, 2021 against Cameron).

Schulte led LCU with 17 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Duncan finished with 15 points and matched a career high with four steals. She was also +30 in plus/minus. Foster (15 points), Burr (10 points) and Audrey Robertson (10 points) joined Schulte and Duncan in double figures in points. Robertson was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and the eight free-throws made is the most by an LCU member in a LSC Championship game.

UAFS (7-18) had 18 points from Paige Elston, who led all scorers. They also received 13 points from Foster, 12 points from Lollie and 11points from Dachelle Terry. The Lions had a 10-3 scoring advantage in second-chance scoring, as they benefitted off 11 offensive rebounds.