LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (10-4, 5-1) at TEXAS PERMIAN BASIN (6-7, 3-4)
January 5, 2023 • 5:15 PM
Odessa, Texas • UTPB Gym / Falcon Dome (1,000)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
UTPB	Odessa, Texas	Thur., Jan. 5	5:15 p.m.	Video	Stats
Angelo State	San Angelo, Texas	Sat. Jan. 7	1 p.m.	Video	Stats
GAME NOTES (PDF)

DIVISIONAL ROAD PLAY
Lubbock Christian University has been on the road and has played a Lone Star Conference game on the road, but for the first time this season, they hit the road for a LSC West Division contest this week. Thursday, LCU opens a week of two West Division road contests, as they face Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas (5:15 p.m. tip) before heading to San Angelo, Texas Saturday to face Angelo State at 1 p.m.  
 
NO HORSING AROUND
Grace Foster produced 27 points and 14 rebounds in her fifth double-double performance of the season, as she helped Lubbock Christian University open 2023 with a 74-68 Lone Star Conference West Division victory over Midwestern State. The win was LCU's first home win ever on New Year's Day and they have won 111 consecutive home games inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU, who had five players finish in double figures in points Friday against Cameron, had four players Sunday finish in double figures in scoring. Along with Foster's 27 points, LCU had 13 points from Stovall, 12 from Maci Maddox and 11 from Audrey Robertson, who led LCU with five points in the opening quarter. Maddox also added eight assists to her afternoon.
 
GOODNESS GRACE-IOUS
The Lone Star Conference recognized a member of the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals with a weekly honor for the first time this season, as Grace Foster claimed LSC Women's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Foster averaged a double-double on the week, as LCU claimed home wins over Cameron and Midwestern State. The sophomore from Childress, Texas ranked tied for second among LSC individuals in both scoring (19.5 points per game) and rebounding (10.5 per game). She opened the weekend with 12 points against CU, with all 12 points scored in the first half to help LCU cruise to an 85-34 win. Foster followed with her fifth double-double of the season, posting 27 points and 14 rebounds against MSU (also had three blocks and four assists against the Mustangs). Foster was 10-of-16 (.625) from the field on the week and went 16-of-18 (.889) from the free-throw line. Her 27-point performance Sunday inside Rip Griffin Center was the highest scoring mark at home for LCU since Maddi Chitsey posted 28 points against St. Mary's on January 6, 2018. Her 14 rebounds against MSU were also the most by a Lady Chaps member at home this season.

The honor is Foster's second weekly award of her career and first offensive honor. She claimed LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors last season on November 22, 2021.

SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> LCU was without starter Whitney Cox the prior two games, leading to a change in the starting lineup (the only two changes to the starting lineup this season). Carli Bostwick and Reese Schumann have claimed starts in her absence, and the starts for each of the sophomores were their first collegiate starts.
> Grace Foster is sprinkled throughout the statistical leaderboard in the LSC, as she co-leads the LSC in double-doubles (with five to tie for 28^th nationally) and leads in rebounds (133, which is 10^th nationally) and in rebounds per game (9.5, which is 40^th nationally). On the offensive side, Foster leads the LSC in three-point shooting percentage (46.2%) and is third in the LSC in free-throw percentage (90.9%, 14^th nationally) and fourth in the LSC in scoring (15.6 points per game).
> LCU is among the LSC leaders in three-point shooting with a 33.3% shooting percentage from the perimeter this season, which has them fifth in the LSC. Opposing teams are shooting 28.3% from three-point range, which defensively places LCU fifth in the LSC in perimeter defense. Opponents have launched 254 three-point attempts, compared to 234 by LCU.  
> Maci Maddox has double-figure point production in nine of the prior 13 games and enters Thursday's game averaging 11.1 points per contest. She leads the LSC with 67 assists (13^th nationally) and is second with 4.8 assists per game (29^th nationally). Defensively, Maddox ranks third in the LSC in steals (33, 35^th nationally) and is fifth in the LSC in steals per game (2.4).
> Audrey Robertson was solid at the Holiday Hoops Classic, averaging 17.0 points per game. She matched a career high with 15 points against No.13 Georgia Southwestern State and followed with a career-high 19 points in a victory over No.5 Montana State Billings. She returned from the break Friday with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds (also added four assists),and continued with 11 points Sunday against Midwestern State. Robertson, who is 24-of-38 (63.2%) from the field over the prior five games, has double-figures in points in four consecutive games (heading into Thursday).
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 38.8 rebounds per game, posting a high of 48 against Cameron (Dec. 30). LCU has not averaged over 40 rebounds in a season since averaging 40.3 during the 2015-16 season. Grace Foster (9.5) and Reese Schumann (5.6) are each averaging 5.0-or-more rebounds per game. LCU is third in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game (29.6, 25^th nationally) and ninth in overall rebounds per game (38.8).
> LCU has a 240-161 scoring advantage from the line this season against their opposition. They have at least 20 points scored from the line six times this season. On the campaign, LCU is shooting 75.7% (240/377) from the line, which leads the LSC and ranks 42^nd nationally. The Lady Chaps rank eighth nationally and fourth in the LSC in free-throws made per game (17.1). Grace Foster is 60-of-66 (90.9%) from the line this season to lead LCU. Audrey Robertson (47-of-58, 81.0%, 13th in the LSC) and Shaylee Stovall (37-of-47, 78.7%, 15^th in LSC) are each shooting at least 75.0% from the line (of those reaching minimum requirements).
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 72.1 points per contest (averaged 65.9 per game last season), which is third in the LSC (59^th nationally), and they have a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster (15.6), Audrey Robertson (11.3) and Maci Maddox (11.1) lead the average scoring pace for the Lady Chaps.
>Defensively, Lubbock Christian is sixth in the LSC in blocks per game (3.6) and is 11th in steals per game (7.1). Reese Schumann leads LCU in blocks (20), ranking second in the LSC (24^th nationally), and Grace Foster ranks tied for ninth in the LSC with 14 blocks. Schumann's average of 1.4 blocks per game ranks third in the LSC.
>LCU's has dominated third quarters this season, as they have a 262-190 scoring advantage in the third quarter this season (average scoring advantage of 18.7 - 13.6). The 18.7 points per third quarter scoring mark is their highest single-quarter scoring average of the four quarters this season, and their 13.6 points allowed per third quarter is their best defensive quarter of the four quarters this season.

ROAD ROCKIN'
The Lady Chaps are 2-1 in true road games this season. LCU, averaging 65.3 points per game on the road, are led with double-double averages of 18.0 points and 12.7 rebounds per game from Grace Foster. She is joined in double figures in scoring by Rachel Haase, who averages 10.0 points per game on the road. LCU is nearly averaging six more turnovers per game on the road, as they average 16.3 turnovers per game on the road. Haase (7/13, 53.8%) and Foster (7/14, 50%) are each shooting at least 50% from three-point range on the road this season, but the remainder of the team is a combined 3-of-28 (10.7%).

CONFERENCE CALL
Lubbock Christian is 5-1 in Lone Star Conference play and is one of five teams with one or less losses in the conference. A trio of Lady Chaps pace the scoring attack in conference play, as Grace Foster (15.5), Maci Maddox (11.7) and Shaylee Stovall (10.2) are averaging double figures in scoring in conference contests. Foster is also averaging 9.5 rebounds per game in conference (second in LSC). LCU is averaging 74.3 points per game (co-leads the LSC) in conference (shooting a LSC-best 44.2%) and they have a LSC-best 19.7-point scoring margin (defense leads the LSC holding opponents to 54.7 points per game). Maddox averages 5.7 assists per game (co-leads the LSC), which helps LCU lead the LSC with a pace of 15.8 per conference game. Their assist/turnover ratio of 1.07 also leads the LSC.
 
DIVIDING LINE
This season, the LSC returns to division play with an East and West division. The divisional leaders will represent the top two teams in the eight-team Lone Star Conference Championship (tournament) in Frisco, Texas. The remaining field of six teams will have their berth/seedings determined by conference record. LCU is 2-0 in West Division contests. Grace Foster leads LCU in divisional play with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.  Maci Maddox (11.5), Shaylee Stovall (11.5) and Audrey Robertson (11.0) join Foster in scoring with averages in double figures per game. LCU averages 79.5 points per game and is holding opponents to 48.5 points per game for a 31.0 scoring margin. The Lady Chaps average 25.0 points per first quarter in divisional contests.
 
RANKING THINGS
LCU is 1-2 against nationally ranked programs this season, coming off a Dec. 17 win over No.15 MSU Billings in their prior game against a ranked opponent. They fell in their season opener (Nov.5) to No.6 Southern Missouri State and to No.13 Georgia Southwestern State (Dec. 16), as all three games this season against nationally ranked foes have come in neutral site contests. LCU went 6-0 against nationally ranked programs in 2020-21 and 3-2 in 2021-22 against the nations ranked foes (opened 3-0). The Lady Chaps have played three nationally ranked programs and five programs either nationally ranked or receiving top-25 votes. The D2SIDA Top-25 poll has LCU receiving votes, along with Saturday's opponent Angelo State (ASU also receiving votes in the WBCA Top-25 poll.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU, who went 13-0 at home last season, is 7-0 at home this season, which has their active home win streak sitting at 111 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 86 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 33-0 in LSC home games).
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
111 - 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
111 – LCU (Division II)
34 – Christopher Newport (Division III)
33 – South Carolina (Division 1), DeSales (Division III)
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 111 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 -->
Division III – 121 – Amherst Jan. 31, 2009-Feb. 6, 2016
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT UTPB
1 > The Falcons enter the week 6-7 on the season. They have an 3-4 record in LSC action (tied for 10^th in conference standings) and 0-3 in West Division play (tied for seventh in the division). They have lost their last three games.
2 > UTPB, preseason slated at No.13 in the LSC Preseason Poll, has Andreea Mancha leading the Falcons in LSC contests. She is averaging 12.1 points an LSC game (13.4 to lead the team overall on the season). They also have Morgan Helgesen averaging 11.1 points a game in LSC play.   
3 > UT Permian Basin is 2-2 at home this season, with an 1-2 mark in LSC contests hosted inside Falcon Dome.
4 > The Falcons rank eighth in NCAA Division II in steals per game, with a conference-leading pace of 13.8 steals per game. Avalon Munoz leads the LSC in steals (36, 20^th nationally) and is second in steals per game (2.8)
5 > Holly Hemmeline leads the LSC in three-point attempts with 125, which is third nationally. She ranks seventh nationally in three-point field goals (40) and is 10^th nationally with a pace of 3.1 per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST UTPB
LCU is 26-0 all-time against the Falcons. They are 10-0 against UTPB in Odessa and 11-0 all-time against the Falcons all-time as conference opponents (1-0 against the Falcons in conference postseason play). The prior meeting in Odessa was last season (Jan. 29, 2022), with LCU claiming an 83-61 win. Thursday will mark the fourth game, in a five-game span,to be played in Odessa. The two programs have been conference foes in both the Heartland and Lone Star Conference.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. UTPB
LCU's active career leaders against UTPB:
 
Audrey Robertson 3gp, 6.7 pts p/g, 8/14 (57.1%) FG
Grace Foster 1gp, 3 pts
Whitney Cox 5gp, 2.8 pts p/g, 4 blocks

PRIOR MEETING VS. UTPB
ODESSA, Texas (January 29, 2022) - Draining six three-pointers in the process, Channing Cunyus posted a career-high 24 points and combined with Allie Schulte (19 points) for 43 points to help No.8 Lubbock Christian University defeat University of Texas of the Permian Basin 83-61 in Lone Star Conference play inside Falcon Dome.

Cunyus opened her scoring splurge early, hitting all three three-pointers she attempted in the opening quarter. LCU, coming off a season-low in three-point goals Thursday (1 at Angelo State), avoided a repeat performance by attempting their first six field goal attempts from beyond the arc. Half of the attempts went in during the opening 4:26, with Cunyus hitting a pair of attempts and Schulte hitting the other for a 9-4 LCU lead. Audrey Robertson had nine points in the first quarter and all nine were scored in a two-minute span, including her own 6-0 run for a 15-9 LCU lead with 4:33 left in the quarter. Robertson and Cunyus each had a three-pointer inside the final four minutes of the first quarter to give LCU five three-pointers and a 23-16 lead at the close of the quarter.

The first six points of the second quarter were from long distance shots from Cunyus, who gave LCU a 29-16 lead a minute into the second quarter. The two teams traded points throughout the quarter, with Cunyus leading all players with eight points in the frame. Holly Hemmeline and Alexus Wykoff each had six points for UTPB in the quarter. Hemmeline hit a three-pointer inside the final 10 seconds of the half to place the halftime score at 40-33.

Wykoff had a layup for the first points of the second half, cutting LCU's lead to 40-35, but Cunyus' jumper in response ignited a 13-0 LCU run for a 53-35 lead with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. Schulte had LCU's final four points of the quarter and finished with 10 points in the quarter for a 65-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Cunyus' final three-pointer was made with 7:22 into the fourth quarter and it opened a 7-0 run to place LCU up 74-51. LCU played 14 players in the fourth quarter, and all were solid from the field. The Lady Chaps shot 57.1% (8/14) from the field in the final quarter to maintain their lead.

The Lady Chaps shot a season-high 56.1% (32-57) from the field, which is their best shooting mark in a game since Mar. 5, 2020 against Angelo State. LCU was 10-of-27 (37%) from three-point range. Cunyus was 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from three-point range, as her 24 points topped her prior career high of 14 points. The 24 points also matched a 24-point output on Jan. 22 (vs. St. Mary's) by Ashton Duncan for the team's individual high this season. Cunyus' six three-pointers also marks the third time this season a Lady Chap has made six or more three-pointers in a game this season.

Schulte had 12 points in the second half and finished the game with 19 points, six assists and four steals. She had a mark of +29 (plus/minus) while on the floor and the team was outscored by seven points when she was not on the court. LCU also received 11 points each from Laynee Burr and Audrey Robertson. The win places LCU with a 17-4 overall record and a 6-3 record in LSC play.

UTPB Avalon Munoz and Hemmeline co-led UTPB with 12 points. Wykoff finished with 11 points.