RIVALRY IS THE UNDERTONE
A NCAA postseason edition of the "Rivalry on the Range" takes place Monday in Canyon, Texas, but the "Rivalry on the Range" is the last thing on the mind of the game's participants. On the line is a trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight in Birmingham, Ala., as No.3-seed No.9 Lubbock Christian and No.1-seed No.19 West Texas A&M clash in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Championship Game. The two teams are meeting for the third time in a regional championship game and for the first time in a title game hosted in Canyon.  
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat WT they will improve to 29-6 on the season, 14-0 all-time in NCAA regional play, and they will qualify for their fourth NCAA Elite Eight berth. The 2022 NCAA Elite Eight Division II Women's Basketball Tournament is hosted in Birmingham beginning Mar. 22.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Lady Buffs, they will suffer their first NCAA regional loss in program history and will have their season end with a 28-7 record.

CHAP NOTES

• > Allie Schulte, who actively ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in career games played (154 games played in her career), leads the squad in scoring with an average of 11.7 points per game. She also leads the team is assists (98) and steals (90). Her 98 assists ranks eighth in the conference, with a pace of 3.2 per game (15th in the LSC), and her 90 steals is fifth in the nation (ranks 13th nationally in steals per game at 2.9). 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 90 steals also has her with 319 career steals, which is the second active leading mark in career steals in NCAA Division II (second highest mark in program history and 12 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 90 three-pointers, averaging 2.65 per game (fourth in the conference). The 90 three-pointers ranks sixth in the nation and leads the LSC (she is one 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 11.1 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 276 three-pointers, which is LCU's career three-point record.  Duncan's 276 career three-pointers ranks seventh actively in NCAA Division II for career three-pointers.
• > The Lady Chaps had individuals claim the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor six times this season. Juliana Robertson and Allie Schulte received the honor twice, with teammate Grace Foster also receiving the award. Overall for Offensive and Defensive, LCU 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 79.0% (433/548) from the free-throw line, which ranks 12^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 31-of-32 on the season from the line in the fourth quarter of games, is 71-of-81 (87.7%) from the free-throw line on the season.
• > Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson have provided LCU strong defensive play inside the perimeter. Robertson ranks fourth in the LSC in rebounds (257) and fifth in defensive rebounds per game (5.8). She is second for LCU in blocks (27), behind Foster, who has registered 28. Both ranking in the top-10 in the LSC.
• > LCU is fifth nationally in turnovers…or lack thereof, as they average 11.8 per game. The stat has Allie Schulte second in the LSC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.23. As a team, LCU ranks 19^th nationally and leading the LSC for team assist/turnover ratio (1.13). They are also 19^th in turnover margin (5.26 advantage per game).

 
D-UP!
LCU defensively has held opponents to an average of 53.0 points a game, which ranks fifth nationally. Lady Chap opponents have been held to under 50 points in 15 of their 34 games this season.
 
TOURNEY TALK
LCU is 22-1 all-time in NCAA postseason play, all since becoming NCAA postseason eligible in 2015-16, and they are 13-0 in South Central Regional play all-time. Monday's game marks LCU's seventh game in a regional to not be played at home. LCU played the first two rounds of the 2018-19 South Central Regional in Grand Junction, Colo. and played last season's regional in Canyon (prior to this season's regional in Canyon). The Lady Chaps are 6-0 in those games, which include a 56-53 win in 2019 at Colorado Mesa for their lone road game in the mix of regional games.

Lubbock Christian is shooting 51.3% all-time in NCAA South Central Regional games, while holding opponents to a 38.4% shooting mark from the field and a 27.2% shooting woe from long range. Former Lady Chaps Maddi Chitsey is LCU's all-time leading scorer in regional action, averaging 17.2 points per game (she played in six career NCAA regional contests) and compiling 103 points.

Schulte is LCU's overall NCAA postseason scoring leader with 193 points. The point guard from Nazareth, Texas is LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason games played (17) and her 10 games played in a NCAA Regional also leads the squad. Schulte averages 11.4 points a game in NCAA postseason contests and is shooting 53.6% (15-of-28) from three-point range. She is averaging 9.7 points per game in NCAA regional contests, while also shooting 70% (7-of-10) from long range and 93.3% (28-of-30) from the free-throw line.

Ashton Duncan averages 9.9 points a game in regional contests and averages 9.6 overall in NCAA postseason contests (11 total games). She has 17 three-pointers in seven NCAA regional tournament games and is LCU's all-time leader in three-pointers in regional contests. Duncan is also LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason three-pointers with 27 three-pointers. She leads LCU this season averaging 20.0 points per game in the regional tournament.

Juliana Robertson is LCU all-time postseason leader in rebounding. The Kerrville, Texas native averages 6.1 rebounds in NCAA regional tournament competition and 5.9 rebounds overall in NCAA postseason play. Her totals of 49 rebounds in regional play is second all-time (Tess Bruffey leads all-time with 51), and her overall NCAA postseason total of 83 rebounds is LCU's all-time rebounding marks in NCAA postseason play.
 
LCU's ALL-TIME REGINAL'S ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
 
2015-2016
Tess Bruffey (MOP)
Nicole Hampton
Haley Fowler
 
2017-2018
Tess Bruffey (MOP)
Maddi Chitsey
 
2018-2019
Olivia Robertson (MoP)
Maddi Chitsey
 
2020-2021
Emma Middleton (MOP)
Allie Schulte
Juliana Robertson
 
SPEAKING OF HONORS
The Lone Star Conference recognized six Lady Chaparrals with conference honors for this season:
 
Allie Schulte – First Team All-LSC, LSC All-Academic Team
Ashton Duncan – Second Team All-LSC, LSC All-Academic Team
Channing Cunyus – Third Team All-LSC
Laynee Burr – Honorable Mention All-LSC
Juliana Robertson – Honorable Mention All-LSC, All Defensive Team
Grace Foster – All-Freshman Team
 
NEUTRALITY
LCU is 6-2 this season on a neutral floor. Ashton Duncan leads LCU on a neutral court, averaging 12.0 points a game. Allie Schulte (11.5) and Laynee Burr (10.8 points) are also averaging double figures in neutral site contests. LCU is holding opponents to a 38.2% shooting percentage in the category (28.2% from three-point range). Schulte is averaging 4.0 assists per game in eight neutral site games.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU went 13-0 at home last 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 13-0 at home this season, which has their active home win streak sitting at 104 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 29-0 in LSC home games).
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
104 - 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
104 – LCU (Division II)
30 – BYU (Division I)
29 – Two programs tied
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 104 - 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 Monday's action, LCU is 242-35 in that span (87.4%). In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 22-1 all-time (13-0 in regionals).

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.9 in D2SIDA and No.19 in WBCA. 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 4-1 against ranked opponents, as they have defeated No.11 Tampa (Nov. 7 in Billings, Mont.), No.1 Lander (Nov. 19 in Lubbock), No.20 Daemen (Nov. 20 in Lubbock) and No.7 Texas A&M-Commerce (Mar. 12 in Canyon).
 
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.
 
ON THE COURT TOO
Thursday, Allie Schulte claimed a First Team designation on the 2021-2022 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-South Central Region Women's Basketball Team. Voting for the award was conducted by NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA). Schulte claims her first All-South Central Region selection by D2CCA. There were no D2CCA All-Region Teams last season, due to COVID, but an All-America Team was produced by D2CCA and Schulte claimed Second Team All-America honors. The accolade for Schulte is the first All-Region selection, by D2CCA, since Maddi Chitsey received All-Region and Most Outstanding Player in the region in 2020. Due to COVID, the D2CCA did not recognize an All-Region Team last season (only All-America Team, which Schulte and Emma Middleton were a part of). Sports information directors from NCAA Division II South Central Region schools and conferences selected the all-region teams. The process concludes with All-American selections announced later in the month.
 
SENORITY
LCU celebrated Senior Night Feb. 24 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 surpassed 650 career points (653), has appeared in 113 career contests. Cunyus, who also has over 550 career points (569), has played in 108 career games as a Lady Chap.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT WT
1 > The Lady Buffs claimed the LSC regular season title (13-3 in conference) and the LSC Championship (tournament) title, leading to hosting the South Central Regional. WT is 25-10 overall and have won seven consecutive games.
2 > Excluding a 92-37 exhibition loss at No.7 Baylor, WT has played five nationally ranked programs and they are 6-3 in those contests.
3 > This season is the first season for Josh Prock to serve as the head coach of WT. He previously coached at Eastern New Mexico, where he led ENMU to three NCAA postseason appearances.
4 > WT leads the nation in rebounding, with a total of 1,532 rebounds, with an average of 43.77 per game (12th nationally).  They have two players averaging over 8.0 rebounds per game, as Karley Motschenbacher (8.0… sixth in the LSC) and Alivia Lewis (8.4… fifth in the LSC) lead the way for the Lady Buffs on the boards.
5 > The Lady Buffs lead the LSC and are third nationally in blocks with 177, ranking 12^th with a pace 4.7 per contest.
 

THE SERIES AGAINST WT
LCU and WT are separated by 110 miles, but the two teams have only met 11 prior times (this season marks the third season they will face each other multiple times). LCU has a 7-4 series advantage. The first ever meeting was on Nov. 16, 2001, with WT defeating LCU 90-53 in Canyon, Texas (LCU's 2001-02 season opener). Last season, LCU swept the two-game home-and-home conference series, with a 68-42 win in Lubbock (Feb. 25) and a 48-45 win in Canyon (Feb. 27). The two teams played three times earlier this season, with a non-conference contest in Lubbock (Dec. 7, 2021, LCU won 60-49), a conference tilt in Canyon (Feb. 10, WT won 55-48) and a LSC Championship meeting (Semifinals) in Frisco (Mar. 5). Of their 11 prior meetings, four have been in postseason play and all won by LCU.

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

Grace Foster 3 GP, 7.0 pts/g, 3/5 3PT
Allie Schulte 8 GP, 13.1 pts/g
Ashton Duncan 8 GP, 9.5 pts/g, 20/49 (40.8%)

PRIOR MEETING VS. WT
FRISCO, Texas (March 5, 2021) - For the first time ever, No.10 Lubbock Christian University tasted defeat at the Lone Star Conference Championship, as they were eliminated in the Semifinals by No.1-seed West Texas A&M 63-58 Saturday inside Comerica Center despite Allie Schulte (15) and Channing Cunyus (14) combining for 29 points for the No.5-seed Lady Chaparrals. LCU will now await Sunday's NCAA Division II Selection Show at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com to find out their seeding in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

The game featured 13 lead changes and neither team had more than a four-point lead through the first three quarters. Each team opened the game with poor shooting, going 3-of-13 (23.1%) in the opening quarter from the field and the score was tied 8-8 after the first quarter.
 
For the first seven minutes of the second quarter, neither team had more than a 4-0 run. Ashton Duncan had a pair of three-pointers in the frame, and her second three-pointer of the quarter came at the horn to cap an 8-2 run, as LCU held WT without a field goal over the final 4:47 of the half and took a 25-23 halftime lead.
 
Cunyus (9), who had the first five points of LCU's 8-2 run to end the half, and Duncan (6) combined for 15 points in the half to lead LCU from the field. Lauren Taylor led all players, leading WT with 13 points at the break.
 
LCU maintained the tempo in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. Despite nearly five minutes without a field goal, LCU had a 6-2 scoring stretch to lead 31-27 with 5:39 remaining in the quarter. WT found a spark midway through the quarter, as Zam Roberts and Lauren Taylor drained three-pointers for a 6-0 run and a 33-31 WT lead. Audrey Robertson had a layup to regain the lead with 1:03 left in the quarter (37-35), but it would not last, as WT closed the quarter with a pair of field goals in the final 49 seconds of the quarter to take a 39-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Buffs would turn the 4-0 run to close the third quarter into a 7-0 run, as Haylei Janssens nailed a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter. Janssens scored WT's first six points of the quarter, only interrupted by a Cunyus three-pointer. Allie Schulte had an and-one play to cut WT's lead to 45-43 90 seconds into the quarter, before WT built the lead to 50-43 with 6:18 left. Schulte had nine points in the quarter for LCU, but it was not enough to match Roberts' 10 points in the quarter for WT. She hit a huge three-pointer with 1:28 left to extend WT's lead to 57-50 with 1:28 left. It was enough to hold off the Lady Chaps the rest of the way.
 
Roberts and Taylor co-led WT with a game-high 18 points in the game. The two combined 5-of-10 from three-point range. The Lady Buffs improved to 22-10 on the season.
 
The Lady Chaps were led by Schulte (15 points) and Cunyus (14 points). Schulte also added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. LCU had a 15-9 advantage in turnovers, but the two teams each had seven points-off-turnovers.