LSC CHAMPIONSHIP - FIRST ROUND No.12-Seed ARKANSAS FORT SMITH (7-17) at No.5-seed No.11 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (24-5) March 1, 2022 • 6 p.m. Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (1,950) TICKETS: Click Here LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast TOURNAMENT WEBSITE 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 (7-17) Location: Fort Smith, Ark. Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Ryan McAdams (Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo in 2004) Roster | Stats | UAFS Preview
	LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (24-5) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF)

GUESS WHAT MONTH IT IS?
No.11 Lubbock Christian University jumps into March jumping into postseason play with the First Round of the 2022 Lone Star Conference Championship. The Lady Chaps are the No.5-seed and open hosting No.12-seed Arkansas Fort Smith Tuesday at 6 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center. The 12-team single-elimination tournament has the First Round played on campus sites, with the winning programs joining the top-four seeds in Frisco, Texas for the remainder of the tournament.  
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat UAFS, they will improve to 25-5 on the season and will advance to the tournament Quarterfinals game to face No.4-seed Angelo State Friday at 8:30p.m. in Frisco.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Lions, their record will drop to 24-6, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will await an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament (eight-team tournament). The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show will air Sunday, Mar. 6 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.

CHAP NOTES

• > Allie Schulte, who actively ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in career games played (149 games played in her career), leads the squad in scoring with an average of 11.8 points per game. She also leads the team is assists (84) and steals (80). Her 84 assists ranks 11th in the conference, with a pace of 3.2 per game (13th in the LSC), and her 80 steals is eighth in the nation (ranks seventh nationally in steals per game at 3.1). She had 51 steals in conference play (had her with 3.6 steals per conference game), with a career-high eight steals on Jan. 2 at Texas A&M International. The 81 steals also has her with 309 career steals, which is the second active leading mark in career steals in NCAA Division II (second highest mark in program history and 22 away from the program's all-time career mark). Feb. 3 (against Midwestern State), Schulte became the 32^nd active Division II player to reach 1,500 career points and became the first Lady Chap to hit the plateau since Tess Bruffey (2014-2018).
• > Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 73 three-pointers, averaging 2.52 per game (fourth in the conference). The 73 three-pointers ranks 15th in the nation and leads the LSC (she is 12 three-pointers away from the LCU single-season record owned by Kelsey Hoppel with 90 during the 2015-16 season). Duncan, who became the second active 1,000-point member on the LCU roster, is second on the team averaging 10.8 points per game. She matched a program single-game record with eight three-pointers on Jan. 22 against St. Mary's (second time in her career). She has 259 three-pointers, which ranks her second in program history, and she is 15 three-point attempts from having the top mark in LCU record books.  Duncan's 259 career three-pointers ranks 12^th actively in NCAA Division II for career three-pointers.
• > The Lady Chaps have claimed the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor in six times this season. Juliana Robertson and Allie Schulte have received the honor twice, with teammate Grace Foster also receiving the award. Overall for Offensive and Defensive, LCU has claimed six LSC honors issued this season (five defensive and one offensive).
• > LCU opened the season making their first 14 free-throw attempts and are 79.3% (353/445) from the free-throw line, which ranks 11^th 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 homestand 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, who is 27-of-27 on the season from the line in the fourth quarter of games, is 61-of-68 (89.7%) from the free-throw line on the season, which is ninth nationally.
• > Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson have provided LCU strong defensive play inside the perimeter. Robertson ranks fifth in the LSC in rebounds (213) and sixth in defensive rebounds per game (5.5). She joins Foster co-leading LCU in blocks with 24 (ninth in the LSC).
• > LCU is seventh nationally in turnovers…or lack thereof, as they average 11.9 per game. The stat has Allie Schulte leading the LSC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.40. As a team, LCU ranks 18^th nationally and leading the LSC for team assist/turnover ratio (1.14). They are also 19^th in turnover margin (5.45 advantage per game).

 
D-UP!
LCU defensively has held opponents to an average of 51.6 points a game, which ranks fourth nationally. Lady Chap opponents have been held to under 50 points in 15 of their 29 games this season.
 
TOURNEY TALK
With wins last season in the 2021 LSC Championship, 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 last season, as the Lady Chaps also topped the Lions for the 2020 tournament title in Frisco, Texas.
 
LCU's ALL-TIME LSC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
 
2019-2020
Caitlyn Cunyus (MVP)
Allie Schulte
Maddi Chitsey
 
2020-2021
Emma Middleton (MVP)
Channing Cunyus
Allie Schulte
 
HOMEBODIES
LCU is 12-0 in home contests this season, with Ashton Duncan leading the squad averaging 11.7 points per game inside Rip Griffin Center. Allie Schulte joins Duncan in double-figure scoring average with 10 points a game. Duncan has the season-high individual game point total for a home game this season, scoring 24 points off eight three-pointers on Jan.22 verses St. Mary's. Two of LCU's 12 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 45.4% at home this season, and shooting 37.9% from long distance at home. The Lady Chaps have excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 82.2% (166/202) from the free-throw line this season, as Schulte is 26-of-26 and Laynee Burr is 27-of-27 from the stripe at home. Defense has been a strong-point for LCU at home this season, as they have held opponents to a 38.4% shooting mark from the floor (28.5% from three-point range). Foes are also 68.2% (103/151) 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 12-0 at home this season, which has their active home win streak sitting at 103 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 3-0 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 29-0 in LSC home games).
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
103 - 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
103 – LCU (Division II)
37 – Stephen F. Austin (Division I)
30 – BYU (Division I)
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 103 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
Division III – 121 – Amherst Jan. 31, 2009-Feb. 6, 2016

EYE-OPENING
The 2021-22 season marks LCU's ninth since leaving the NAIA, and heading into Tuesday's action, LCU is 238-34 in that span (87.5%). 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 the following week's polls. They worked back up to No.2 (D2SIDA) and No.4 (WBCA),but have since fallen and are currently No.16 in WBCA and No.11 in D2SIDA. 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 Jan. 13, LCU fell at No.6 Texas A&M-Commerce, which was their first loss of the season against a Top-25 nationally ranked opponent (it has been their only road game against a nationally ranked opponent this season). 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 3-1 against ranked opponents, as they have defeated No.11 Tampa (Nov. 7 in Billings, Mont.), No.1 Lander (Nov. 19 in Lubbock) and No.20 Daemen (Nov. 20 in Lubbock).
 
OFF THE COURT SMARTS
Lubbock Christian University's Allie Schulte was selected as an Academic All-District Six (NCAA Div. II) recipient by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Schulte, a graduate guard from Nazareth, Texas, holds a 3.87 GPA, as she completed a degree in Humanities and is currently completing a second degree with a bachelors in Exercise Science. In order to be selected to an academic all-district team, a student-athlete must demonstrate success on the playing field and in the classroom, with academic and athletic achievements taken into consideration. The student-athlete must possess a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA and be at least a sophomore in academic standing. The honor is the second All-District academic honor for Schulte, and it gives LCU eight Academic All-District selections in women's basketball at the NCAA Div. II level in program history. LCU has received an All-District selection in all but one season in which they have been eligible to receive recognition. Schulte is nominated for Academic All-America accolades.
 
SENORITY
LCU celebrated Senior Night Thursday during halftime of the men's basketball contest against Western New Mexico by recognizing Laynee Burr and Channing Cunyus. Both members, in their fourth season with the Lady Chaps, will not exercise their additional season of eligibility made available via COVID. Burr, who is approaching 600 career points (593), has appeared in 108 career contests. Cunyus, who also has over 500 career points (536), has played in 103 career games as a Lady Chap.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT UAFS
1 > The Lady Lions enter the postseason 7-17 and are the No.12-seed following a 4-10 finish in conference play. They have dropped their last four game, including their last two road games, which has them at 4-9 on the season in road contests.
2 > UAFS, who entered the season No.14 in the LSC Preseason Poll, has Paige Elston leading the squad with 14.8 points per game. She is averaging 18.4 points a game over the past nine games.  
3 > The meeting Thursday will mark LCU's second 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 > The Lions are making their second trip to a LSC Championship event. They are 0-1 all-time, falling in the First round in 2020 at St. Edward's in Austin, Texas.
5 > UAFS ranks 66^th nationally and fifth in the LSC in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 13.3 per contest. Mar'Shalia Lollie ranks 12^th nationally and leads the LSC by averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. She averages 8.4 rebounds per game overall this season (third in the LSC).

THE SERIES AGAINST UAFS
LCU has won the last seven meetings and has a 14-1 all-time advantage over UAFS. All meetings have been since joining the Heartland Conference. LCU is 7-0 all-time in Lubbock against UAFS, which includes the previous meeting of the season (71-34 LCU win on Jan. 6). The two teams have one prior postseason meeting, and it resulted in a 69-61 LCU win for a Heartland Conference Tournament Championship in 2018 in Tulsa, Okla. (Mar. 4, 2018). LCU outscored UAFS 25-8 in the fourth quarter of the contest to rally for the title.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. UAFS
Here is a look at LCU's top three active leaders career vs. UAFS:

Grace Foster 1gp – 5.5 pts/g, 5/7 fg (71.4%), 2/3 3-pt fg
Audrey Spurgin 1gp – 7.0 pts/g, 1/1 fg, 5/6 ft
Laynee Burr 4gp – 5.5 pts/g, 4/7 3-pt fg (57.1%)

PRIOR MEETING VS. UAFS
LUBBOCK, Texas (January 6, 2022) - No.6 Lubbock Christian University used a 20-0 run and a 27-2 start of the game to cruise to a 71-34 Lone Star Conference win over Arkansas Fort Smith Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU's victory, in their first conference home game of the season, extended their NCAA Division II record home win streak to 96 games and it was their 75th consecutive conference home win.

LCU opened the game with the first 7-0 points and a field goal by UAFS's Paige Elston with 6:10 left in the quarter was the only points for the Lady Lions in the quarter. Juliana Robertson and Grace Foster each had five points in the first quarter, as LCU closed the quarter on a 7-0 run for a 14-2 lead. They continued the second quarter scoring the first 13 points of the quarter, with Allie Schulte scoring seven of the points to complete a 20-0 run. UAFS went a scoreless span of 10:41 before Rebecca Christodoulou ended the dry spell with a field goal to cut LCU's lead to 27-4 with 5:41 left in the half. Foster then scored five consecutive points and LCU held UAFS to six points in the first half, as LCU took a 38-6 lead into the locker room.

LCU held UAFS to 14.3% (3/21) shooting in the first half, while shooting 51.9% (14/27) in the half. Foster led LCU with 10 points in the half (in 7:35 of playing time). LCU forced UAFS into 14 turnovers in the first half, resulting in a 19-2 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.

The Lady Chaps starting five played the first three minutes of the second half before the bench played the rest of the way. Schulte connected on a three-pointer to cap a 12-point night, and the long-distance shot put LCU up 45-6. Foster added four points in the quarter to give LCU a 55-16 lead heading into the final quarter.

LCU had a 41-point lead twice in the fourth quarter for their largest lead of the game. Audrey Spurgin had five of her career-high seven points in the quarter, drawing four fouls and scoring five of her seven points from the free-throw line.

The Lady Chaps shot 57.9% (11/19) in the second half and finished the contest 54.3% (25/46) from the field. They were 9-of-18 from three-point range, with Laynee Burr and Foster each going 2-of-3 from long distance. Foster led LCU with 14 points, going 5-of-7 from the field. Schulte finished with 12 points, while also going +38 (plus/minus) and providing three assists and four steals in 17 minutes of play. Burr also added 10 points to finish in double figures. LCU finished with 11 steals and forced 25 turnovers, leading to a 27-13 advantage in points-off-turnovers. The Lady Chaps also led the rebounding 29-20 and had a 28-14 scoring advantage in the paint.

Elston led UAFS with 9 points, scoring four of UAFS's six points in the first half.