2023 NCAA DIVISION II SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL - SEMIFINALS
No.6-Seed BLACK HILLS STATE (23-7) vs. No.7-Seed LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (23-10)
Mar. 11, 2023 • 5:00 PM
San Angelo, Texas • Junell Center (6,500)
 

NCAA DIVISION II SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
No.6-seed Black Hills St.	San Angelo, Texas	Sat. Mar. 11	5 p.m.	Video	Stats
GAME NOTES (PDF)

  
SEVEN-UP
Lubbock Christian University is one of four No.7-seeds still alive in the field of 32 remaining teams after Friday's opening round play (quarterfinals) of the eight regional tournaments taking place in NCAA Division II. The Lady Chaps aim for a Sweet Sixteen berth and a placement into Monday's South Central Regional title game, as Saturday they face No.6-seed Black Hills State at 5 p.m. inside Junell Center. LCU advanced into the semifinals after beating No.2-seed No.10 Texas Woman's Friday. Black Hills advanced after upsetting No.3 Regis 61-57 in overtime.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat BHSU, they will improve to 24-10 on the season and will advance to the regional tournament championship game to face either No.1-seed Angelo State or No.5-seed UT Tyler Monday at 7 p.m. in San Angelo.

IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Yellow Jackets, they will suffer their second NCAA regional loss in program history and will have their season end with a 23-11 record.   
 
SPOILER ALERT
Less than a week after suffering a 35-point loss to Texas Woman's at the Lone Star Conference Championships in Frisco, Texas, No.7-seed Lubbock Christian University avenged the loss with a 62-55 upset in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals over No,2-seed No.10 Texas Woman's Friday inside Junell Center.

History was also made in the upset victory, as Grace Foster, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and 27 points in the second half, notched a program NCAA-era postseason single-game record with 29 points. She was 12-of-12 from the free-throw line in the process, which is a postseason program single-game best mark. It approached their overall program single-game record held by Nicole Hampton, who was 14-of-14 from the line on Jan. 16, 2014.

The previous meeting witnessed TWU setting a LSC Championship record shooting performance from outside, as the Pioneers shot a whopping .722 (13-18) from three-point range, which also marked a record by an LCU opponent. There was no repeat performance Friday, as TWU was 1-of-10 from the three-point range in the game.
 
Foster went from 1-of-7 shooting in the first half to 7-of-8 shooting in the second half. Her 29 points topped Maddi Chitsey's mark of 28 points against North Georgia at the Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio (Mar. 26, 2019). Maddox finished with 16 points to join Maddox in double figures. LCU was 20-of-23 from the line (87%) and went 43.5% (20/46) from the field. They held TWU to 35.7% shooting from the field.
 
SUCH GRACE!
Lubbock Christian University's Grace Foster was selected as the South Central Region Most Outstanding Player and she highlights the 2022-2023 Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-South Central Region Women's Basketball Team announced Thursday. Voting for the award was conducted by NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Communicators (D2SIDA / CSC).

Foster becomes the fourth LCU student-athlete to claim the region's Most Outstanding Player honors. LCU has claimed the four honors over an eight-year span since becoming NCAA postseason eligible in 2015-16. Foster joins Maddi Chitsey (2020), Tess Bruffey (2018) and Nicole Hampton (2016) as LCU's recipients of the accolade.

SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> Grace Foster is sprinkled throughout the statistical leaderboard in the LSC, as she leads the LSC in double-doubles (with 13 to rank 22^nd nationally) and leads in rebounds (297, which is 17^th nationally), while ranking second in rebounds per game (9.0, which is 47^th nationally). Her 297 rebounds on the season ranks as the second-best single season mark in program history. The sophomore is 14 boards away from moving past Nicole Hampton's 2012-13 season total of 310 rebounds. On the offensive side, Foster leads the LSC in free-throw percentage (91.8%, fourth nationally) and is third in the LSC in scoring (16.5 points per game).
> LCU ranks second in the LSC in three-point shooting with a 33.5% shooting percentage from the perimeter this season. Opposing teams are shooting 26.9% from three-point range, which defensively places LCU third in the LSC in perimeter defense (22^nd nationally). LCU's perimeter defense was fourth nationally until TWU shot a LSC Championship record 72.7% from outside Saturday.
> Maci Maddox ranks third in the LSC with 140 assists (27^th nationally) and is fourth with 4.2 assists per game (50^th nationally). Defensively, Maddox ranks seventh in the LSC in steals (61) and 10th in steals per game (1.9).
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 36.2 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 (9.0), Audrey Robertson (4.8) and Reese Schumann (4.8) are each averaging 4.8-or-more rebounds per game. LCU sits third in the LSC in defensive rebounds per game (28.2, 35^th nationally) and ninth in overall rebounds per game (36.5).
> LCU has a 493-383 scoring advantage from the line this season against their opposition (however, LCU has been outscored 142-131 from the line on the road). They have at least 20 points scored from the line eight times this season. On the campaign, LCU is shooting 77.6% (493/635) from the line, which leads the LSC and ranks 16^th nationally. The Lady Chaps rank 26th nationally and seventh in the LSC in free-throws made per game (14.9). Grace Foster is 135-of-147 (91.8%) from the line this season to lead LCU. Audrey Robertson (91-of-114, 79.8%, seventh in the LSC) joins Foster in the top-seven in the LSC.
>The Lady Chaps are averaging 67.6 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 (16.5), Maci Maddox (10.7) and Audrey Robertson (10.4) lead the average scoring pace for the Lady Chaps.
>Defensively, Lubbock Christian is fifth in the LSC in blocks per game (3.0). Reese Schumann leads LCU in blocks (38), ranking fourth in the LSC (50th nationally), and Grace Foster ranks 14th in the LSC with 24 blocks. Schumann's average of 1.2 blocks per game ranks seventh in the LSC.
>LCU's has dominated third quarters this season, as they have a 580-460 scoring advantage in the third quarter this season (average scoring advantage of 17.6 - 13.9). The 17.6 points per third quarter scoring mark leads as their highest single-quarter scoring average of the four quarters this season, and their 13.9 points allowed per third quarter ranks as their second-best defensive quarter of the four quarters this season (allow 13.1 points per quarter in first quarter).

WHEN IT'S NEUTRAL
The Lady Chaps are 3-4 on a neutral site court this season, which includes a win against No.15 Montana State Billings (60-58 on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas, Nev.) and No.10 Texas Woman's Friday. Six of the seven games this season have come against teams either nationally ranked or receiving votes (five ranked in top-15). LCU has three players averaging double figures offensively in neutral site games. Grace Foster leads the way with an average of 18.4 points per game. Maci Maddox (11.4) and Audrey Robertson (10.3) and have aided Foster and the Lady Chaps offensively. Robertson (5.0) and Reese Schumann (5.0) have helped bolster a team rebound rate of 35.6 per game, with Foster leading LCU with 6.4 per game. LCU is shooting 81.8% as a team from the free-throw line, with Foster at a 31-of-31 (100%) mark in neutral site play.

CONFERENCE CALL
Lubbock Christian went 15-6 in Lone Star Conference play. A trio of Lady Chaps paced the scoring attack in conference play, as Grace Foster (16.0, which was fourth in the LSC), Maci Maddox (10.4) and Audrey Robertson (10.3) are averaging double figures in scoring in conference contests. Foster also averaged 9.2 rebounds per game in conference (second in LSC). LCU paced the scoring with 67.9 points per game (third in the LSC) in conference (shooting a LSC-best 43.6% from the field) and they posted an 11.3-point (led the LSC) scoring margin (defense led the LSC holding opponents to 56.6 points per game). Maddox averaged 4.5 assists per game (third in the LSC), which helped LCU rank second in the LSC with a pace of 14.1 per conference game. Their assist/turnover ratio of 0.98 led the LSC.

TOURNEY TALK
LCU is 23-2 all-time in NCAA postseason play, all since becoming NCAA postseason eligible in 2015-16, and they are 14-1 in South Central Regional play all-time. Saturday's tip will mark LCU's ninth 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 the past two season's regional in Canyon before Friday's game in San Angelo. The Lady Chaps are 7-1 in those games, which include a 56-53 win in 2019 at Colorado Mesa for their lone true road win in the mix of regional games (1-1 in road games and 6-0 in neutral site contests).

Lubbock Christian is shooting 50.0% all-time in NCAA South Central Regional games, while holding opponents to a 38.1% shooting mark from the field and a 25.9% shooting woe from long range. Former Lady Chaps Maddi Chitsey is LCU's all-time leading scorer in regional action (in average scoring), averaging 17.2 points per game (she played in six career NCAA regional contests) and compiling 103 points. Allie Schulte is LCU's career leader in overall points scored in regional play with 109 career points in 11 career games. Schulte is also LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason scoring with 205 career points (in 18 games, which is the highest amount of postseason games played by a Lady Chap).

Grace Foster, a sophomore guard from Childress, Texas, is LCU's active leader in postseason scoring with 45 points and an average 11.3 points per game. The Lone Star Conference Player of the Year is 14-of-29 (.483) from the field and 15-of-15 from the free-throw line in four career NCAA postseason games. Her 29-point performance Friday against TWU marked the highest single-game point total in LCU's NCAA postseason history. Audrey Robertson (5 games), Maci Maddox (5), Whitney Cox (3) and Shaylee Stovall (3) are active members on the LCU roster with experience appearing in NCAA regional contests.

LCU's ALL-TIME REGIONAL'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
 
2021-2022
Ashton Duncan
Juliana Robertson
 
SPEAKING OF HONORS
The Lone Star Conference recognized three Lady Chaparrals with conference honors for this season:
Grace Foster (First Team, Conference Player of the Year)
Maci Maddox (Second Team)
Audrey Robertson (Third Team)

RANKING THINGS
LCU is 2-5 against nationally ranked programs this season, with a Dec. 17 win over No.15 MSU Billings in Las Vegas, Nev. and Friday's regional win over No.10 Texas Woman's. 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 to No.7 Texas Woman's (Jan. 21 in Denton and Mar. 4 in Frisco) 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 seven games against nationally ranked programs and nine games against programs either nationally ranked or receiving top-25 votes.

EYE-OPENING
The 2022-23 season marks LCU's 10th since leaving the NAIA, and heading into Saturday's action, LCU is 265-46 in that span (85.2%). In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 23-2 all-time (14-1 in regionals).

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 BHSU
1 > The Yellow Jackets enter Saturday 23-7 on the season. They went 17-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They received an at-large bid to the South Central Regional and their win Friday over No.3-seed Regis marked their second NCAA postseason win in program history.
2 > Danica Kocer and Niki Van Wyk are RMAC women's basketball First Team All-Conference selections and graduate forward Ellie Moore is an All-RMAC honorable mention recipient.
3 > BHSU is 1-0 neutral site contests this season, as Friday marked their first neutral site game of the season.
4 > The 'Jackets lead the RMAC in three-point shooting at a rate of 34% from beyond the arc. Niki Van Wyk (65) and Megan Engesser (50) have each dialed in with at least 50 three-point field goals on the season.
5 > BHSU ranks 22^nd in defense, as they hold opponents to 56.9 points per game (best in the RMAC).

THE SERIES AGAINST BHSU
Lubbock Christian and Black Hills State have never met. Each program has a similar history, as they were each NAIA programs that made the move to NCAA and Division II. LCU has played games in Sioux Falls, S.D., but the only South Dakota-based program LCU has faced is South Dakota School of Mines (LCU is 1-0 against SDSM).