LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (19-8, 14-5) at WEST TEXAS A&M (20-8, 13-7)
Feb. 23, 2023 • 5:30 PM
Canyon, Texas • First United Bank Center (5,000)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
West Texas A&M	Canyon, Texas	Thur., Feb. 23	5:30 p.m.	Video	Stats
West Texas A&M	Canyon, Texas	Sat. Feb. 25	1 p.m.	Video	Stats
GAME NOTES (PDF)

  
RIVALRY ON THE RANGE
The hardwood edition of Rivalry on the Range gets underway Thursday, as Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M open a home-and-home week for the final week of the regular season. Both teams are mathematically eligible to claim a West Division title in the Lone Star Conference, which determines the No.2 seed in the LSC Championships. LCU (10-2), Angelo State (10-3) and West Texas A&M (8-4) are the top three teams in the West Division heading into the final week.    
 
SOMETHING ABOUT ST. MARY'S
A 22-2 run in the second half propelled Lubbock Christian University to a 60-46 Lone Star Conference victory over St. Mary's Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
Grace Foster led LCU with 11 points and 11 rebounds to convert her 11th double-double performance of the season. She sniffed a triple-double posting a career-high seven assists in the contest as well. Maci Maddox and Robertson joined Foster in double figures in scoring, as they each contributed 10 points. LCU outscored the Rattlers 18-8 from the free-throw line, with starters (Foster, Maddox, Robertson, Stovall) combining to go 14-of-16 (87.5%) from the line. Maddox and McCoy each had eight points from the field to lead LCU in points from the field.
 
IT'S ACADEMIC
The 2022-23 Academic AllDistrict® Women's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (formerly known as CoSIDA), recognized the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom and included on their list were four Lubbock Christian University women's basketball student-athletes. Whitney Cox, Grace Foster, Audrey Robertson and Reese Schumann were each recognized for their classroom performance.

LCU, claiming four student-athlete Academic All-District recipients, posts their highest total of All-District selections since eligible at the NCAA level (2014-15 was their first season eligible). The quartet gives LCU 12 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.

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. 

SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> Grace Foster is sprinkled throughout the statistical leaderboard in the LSC, as she leads the LSC in double-doubles (with 11 to tie for 27^th nationally) and leads in rebounds (258, which is 18^th nationally), while ranking second in rebounds per game (9.2, which is 38^th nationally). She is 20 rebounds shy of breaking into the program's top five single-season marks in rebounds. On the offensive side, Foster leads the LSC in free-throw percentage (90.7%, eighth nationally) and is fifth in the LSC in scoring (15.3 points per game).

> LCU is second in the LSC in three-point shooting with a 33.5% shooting percentage from the perimeter this season. Opposing teams are shooting 24.7% from three-point range, which defensively places LCU atop the LSC in perimeter defense (fourth nationally). LCU's perimeter defense has held the opposition to a 20.5% three-point shooting percentage (46/224) over the last 14 games played. LCU has an 87-46 advantage in three-point field goals in the span.  

> Maci Maddox leads the LSC with 122 assists (27^th nationally) and is fourth with 4.4 assists per game (45^th nationally). Defensively, Maddox ranks seventh in the LSC in steals (54) and ninth in steals per game (1.9).

>The Lady Chaps are averaging 37.4 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 (9.2) and Audrey Robertson (5.1) are each averaging 5.0-or-more rebounds per game. LCU sits second in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game (29.1, 23^rd nationally) and eighth in overall rebounds per game (37.4).

> LCU has a 412-320 scoring advantage from the line this season against their opposition (however, LCU has been outscored 131-117 from the line on the road). They have at least 20 points scored from the line seven times this season. On the campaign, LCU is shooting 77.4% (412/532) from the line, which leads the LSC and ranks 17^th nationally. The Lady Chaps rank 28^th nationally and seventh in the LSC in free-throws made per game (14.7). Grace Foster is 107-of-118 (90.7%) from the line this season to lead LCU. Audrey Robertson (76-of-92, 82.6%, fourth in the LSC) joins Foster in the top-five in the LSC.

>The Lady Chaps are averaging 67.7 points per contest (averaged 65.9 per game last season), which ranks fifth in the LSC, and they have a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster (15.3) and Audrey Robertson (10.7) lead the average scoring pace for the Lady Chaps.

>Defensively, Lubbock Christian is fifth in the LSC in blocks per game (3.3). Reese Schumann leads LCU in blocks (36), ranking third in the LSC (42^nd nationally), and Grace Foster ranks 13th in the LSC with 22 blocks. Schumann's average of 1.3 blocks per game ranks fourth in the LSC.

>LCU's has dominated third quarters this season, as they have a 498-371 scoring advantage in the third quarter this season (average scoring advantage of 17.8 - 13.3). The 17.8 points per third quarter scoring mark leads as their highest single-quarter scoring average of the four quarters this season, and their 13.3 points allowed per third quarter ranks as their second-best defensive quarter of the four quarters this season (allow 12.6 points per quarter in first quarter).

ROAD ROCK'N
The Lady Chaps are 7-4 in true road games this season. LCU, averaging 63.2 points per game on the road, are led in averages of 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game from Grace Foster. LCU is averaging 3.6 more turnovers per game on the road (compared to the home team), as they average 15.5 turnovers per game on the road. Shaylee Stovall (18/46, 39.1%), Rachel Haase (16/41, 39.0%) and Maci Maddox (14/36, 38.9%) are each shooting over 38% from three-point range on the road this season. LCU (33.2%) is outshooting their opponents (23.8%) on the road from outside.

HOME NUMBERS
The Lady Chaps are 12-1 on the home court this season and averaging a margin of 20.3 points outscoring their opposition. Averaging 70.8 points at home, LCU has a trio of players averaging double figures in points. Grace Foster is averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Audrey Robertson (10.7) and Maci Maddox (10.2) complete the threesome of double-figure point producers at home. Maddox is also averaging 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game at home. Foster is 55-of-60 (91.7%) from the free-throw line, as LCU is 76.3% from the line at home (as a team) and outscoring opponents 219-138 from the line at home.

CONFERENCE CALL
Lubbock Christian is 14-5 in Lone Star Conference play and sits in fourth place in the LSC (conference standings). A duo of Lady Chaps pace the scoring attack in conference play, as Grace Foster (15.2, which is fifth in the LSC) and Audrey Robertson (10.0) are averaging double figures in scoring in conference contests. Foster is also averaging 9.1 rebounds per game in conference (fourth in LSC). LCU is averaging 67.2 points per game (third in the LSC) in conference (shooting a LSC-best 43.4% from the field) and they have a 12.4-point (leads the LSC) scoring margin (defense leads the LSC holding opponents to 54.7 points per game). Maddox averages 4.5 assists per game (third in the LSC), which helps LCU lead the LSC with a pace of 14.3 per conference game. Their assist/turnover ratio of 0.96 ranks second in the LSC.
 
RANKING THINGS
LCU is 1-4 against nationally ranked programs this season, with a Dec. 17 win over No.15 MSU Billings in Las Vegas, Nev. representing their lone win so far against a ranked opponent this season. They fell in their season opener (Nov.5) to No.6 Southern Missouri State and to No.13 Georgia Southwestern State (Dec. 16) in neutral site games before falling at No.7 Texas Woman's (Jan. 21) and at home against No.14 Angelo State (Feb.2). 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 five games against nationally ranked programs and eight games against programs either nationally ranked or receiving top-25 votes.
 
SPEAKING OF RANKINGS
Wednesday, the NCAA released their second South Central Region rankings (first rankings are listed alphabetically) and Lubbock Christian made the list at the No.5 spot. Here are the rankings, as eight programs will receive a berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals:
1.Colorado School of Mines 
2.Angelo State 
3.Texas Woman's University 
4.Black Hills State 
5.Lubbock Christian 
6.Texas A&M-Kingsville 
7.The University of Texas at Tyler 
8.West Texas A&M 
9.Regis (Colorado) 
10.Westminster (Utah)
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
On Feb. 2, the NCAA Division II record home win streak came to a close, as LCU fell to Angelo State, which ended the record win streak at 113. The loss was LCU's first at home since Jan. 1, 2015 against Oklahoma City University. LCU, who also had a 7-0 mark in NCAA postseason play in Lubbock in the mix (not including a 4-0 mark in LSC postseason play), had also won 88 consecutive home conference games (their last conference home loss occurred Jan. 10, 2013 against Oklahoma City). They completed a 49-0 all-time mark in Heartland Conference home games (they are 35-1 in LSC home games). LCU also went 11-1 during their 113-game home win streak against nationally ranked programs.
 
NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
113 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 – Feb. 2, 2023
87 - Neb. Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
85 - West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991
 
NCAA DIVISION LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS BY DIVISION
Division I – 99 – UConn 2006/07 – 2011/12
Division II - 113 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 – Feb. 2, 2023
Division III – 121 – Amherst Jan. 31, 2009-Feb. 6, 2016 
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT WT
1 > The Lady Buffs are 20-8 on the season, with a 13-7 record in LSC play (tied for 5th in the conference standings). They are 8-4 in the West Division this season.
2 > WT was the preseason favorites after claiming the LSC regular season title and LSC Championship (postseason tournament) title, which led to them to the NCAA Elite Eight. They had their season close with a 26-11 record after falling 103-56 to Glenville State in their opening game of the Elite Eight in Birmingham, Ala.
3 > West Texas A&M joins UT Tyler as the only LSC teams without a loss at home this season, as WT is 12-0 on the home court.
4 > The Buffs lead the LSC with a pace of 69.7 points a game.
5 > WT leads the LSC and ranks 34^th nationally with an average of 7.9 three-pointers per game. Azia Himeur leads the pace with 1.79 per game (ranks 11^th in the LSC). Three players have at least 30 three-pointers on the season.

THE SERIES AGAINST WT
LCU and WT are separated by 110 miles, but the two teams have only met 12 prior times (nine meetings since 2020). LCU has a 7-5 series advantage, although WT has won the prior three meetings. The first ever meeting was on Nov. 16, 2001, with WT defeating LCU 90-53 in Canyon, Texas (LCU's 2001-02 season opener). The two teams played four times last season, with a non-conference contest in Lubbock (Dec. 7, 2021, LCU won 60-49), a conference tilt in Canyon (Feb. 10, 2022, WT won 55-48), a LSC Championship meeting (Semifinals) in Frisco (Mar. 5, 2022 in which WT won 63-58) and in the South Central Regional Championship Game in Canyon (Mar. 14, 2022. With WT winning 59-54). Of their 12 prior meetings, three have been in NCAA postseason play (LCU has 2-1 record in NCAA postseason play).
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. WT
LCU's active career leaders against WT:

Grace Foster 3gp, 7.0 pts p/g, 3/5 3-FG
Audrey Robertson 5gp, 2.2 pts p/g, 3/6 FG
Maci Maddox 3gp, 1.3 pts p/g

PRIOR MEETING VS. WT
CANYON, Texas (March 14, 2022) – Missed shots in one game will not stain the legacy of five starters that walked off the floor for the last time wearing a Lady Chaparrals uniform. Five Lubbock Christian University starters with a pair of NCAA Division II national titles on their resume, including a trio of fifth-year players that leave with a 142-7 overall record and a 70-0 record on their home floor, played their final game Monday, as the No.3-seeded Lady Chaps fell 69-65 to No.1-seed West Texas A&M in the championship game of the 2022 Division II Women's Basketball South Central Regional at First United Bank Center. The loss marked LCU's first loss (all-time) in a NCAA regional tournament and their second loss ever in a NCAA postseason game.

Juliana Robertson recorded the 10^th LCU double-double in NCAA Postseason play her second in a postseason contest, as she had 15 points and 12 rebounds. She led LCU in scoring in the first quarter, scoring LCU's final four points of the quarter. Channing Cunyus opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but the Lady Buffs responded on a 12-4 run for a 12-7 lead. Robertson's points to close the quarter cut the WT lead to 18-14 heading into the second quarter.  
 
Allie Schulte, who was limited and came off the bench, had a series of four consecutive points in the second quarter, and it was part of a 7-0 run to climb LCU within two points (23-21). Despite being held to a 32.1% shooting percentage in the half, WT led 29-24 at the break.
 
With 4:22 left in the third quarter, WT took their largest lead of the second half at 35-28. LCU responded on a 7-1 run, with Laynee Burr scoring the final four points of the quarter to cut the WT advantage to 36-35 at the close of the quarter.
 
The 7-1 run turned into a 11-2 run and LCU took a 39-37 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. A three-point play by Schulte put LCU up 44-41 with 5:59 remaining. Karley Motschenbacher answered for WT with six points of a 10-2 WT run for a 51-46 WT lead with 3:02 left. Schulte connected on a three-pointer to end the streak and LCU scored six of the next eight points and LCU trailed 53-52 with 50 seconds remaining. LCU went the final 1:38 of the game without a field goal and WT was able to hold on for a 59-54 victory.
 
WT, 26-10, received 16 points from Motschenbacher, as she was 5-of-8 from the field. Alivia Lewis and Zam Roberts also finished with 11 points.
 
LCU was led by Robertson's 15-points and 12 rebounds. Burr (14) and Schulte (12) also finished in double figures.