LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (13-3, 8-1) at WESTERN NEW MEXICO (7-7, 2-7)
Jan. 20, 2024 • 1 PM (CENTRAL)
Silver City, N.M.• Drag's Court (1,100)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
Western New Mexico	Silver City, N.M.	Sat. Jan. 20	1:00 p.m.	Video	Stats

SILVER SEEKING
Riding a six-game win streak, Lubbock Christian University heads to Silver City, N.M. Saturday to face Western New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference West Division contest with a 1 p.m. (Central) tip inside Drag's Court. LCU takes an 8-1 conference mark and a 5-0 West Division record into the contest. LCU's six-game win streak has them with a 13-3 overall record. They have the second-longest active win streak in the LSC, behind a 14-game active win streak by UT Tyler.
 
PRODUCING IN PORTALES
LCU improved to 6-1 in road play Thursday night following a 73-57 win in Portales, N.M. over Eastern New Mexico. Audrey Robertson and Reese Schumann each produced career-high 24-point performances. Schumann's 24-point outing was part of her first career double-double, as she matched a career high with 10 rebounds. Robertson has posted career-high performances in consecutive games, as her 24 points topped her 21-point contest Saturday against Angelo State. LCU out-scored ENMU 37-23 in the second half to complete the victory.
 
SEASON NOTES AND TRENDS
> LCU opened the season with at least 20 points from the free-throw line in their first four games this season, marking their first four-game span of 20-or-more free-throws since Feb. 18 – Mar.23, 2017. The Lady Chaps are taking advantage from the free-throw line, making a NCAA Division II leading 78.2% of their attempts (223/285) and averaging 13.9 points a game from the line (74^th nationally). Grace Foster has gone 13-of-13 from the free-throw line twice this season and had an active streak of 29 consecutive made free-throws earlier this season. Each of the 13-made free-throw performances involve the most free-throws made in a game (13) since Nicole Hampton had 15 on Jan. 14, 2016 (third-most since 2008). Foster had 13 on Nov. 5 against Adams State at home, which set a Rip Griffin Center record. Foster's 13-of-13 marks are each one off Hampton's 14-of-14 school-record performance on Jan. 14, 2016 (at Newman). Her 13-of-13 on Nov.5 did mark a new Rip Griffin Center record previously held by Laynee Burr, who was 12-of-12 on Feb. 4, 2022 (against Midwestern State). The performance at the line for Foster on Nov. 12 against CSU Pueblo marked her sixth game in which she was perfect from the line with six-or-more consecutive shots made. Foster is 80-of-90 on the season (.889, ranks second in the LSC and 16th nationally), which leads the squad (of qualifiers). Shaylee Stovall, who is 26-of-28 (92.9%), is 14.0-made free-throws away from qualifying as the team's leader (NCAA minimum to qualify is 2.5 made free-throws per game).

> The Lady Chaps have two players in the top-20 in LSC scoring so far this season. Foster ranks second in the LSC with an average of 18.4 points per game and Audrey Robertson is ranking 14^th in the LSC with 13.4 points per game. Foster and Maci Maddox are in the top-five in minutes played, with Maddox leading the conference (third in the nation) with 37.8 minutes played per game (Foster is third in LSC at 34.2). Maddox is fourth in the LSC with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.0 (has a 2.5 ratio in LSC play and has 23 assists with two turnovers over the prior three games).

> Foster is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game (13th in the LSC), but is fourth in the LSC averaging 6.4 defensive rebounds per game. She led the LSC last season with a pace of 7.5 defensive rebounds per game.
 
> Maci Maddox leads LCU in steals with 33 on the season (ninth in LSC) and ranks 11th in the LSC with a pace of 2.1 steals per game. She opened the season with at least one steal in the first seven games (has had at least one steal in 14 of 16 games this season) and had steals in 10 consecutive games (dating back to last season). Maddox opened last season with at least one steal in the first 11 games.
 
> LCU has shot at least 50% from the field in three games this season. As a team, LCU is second in the LSC and 25th nationally with a 44.9% shooting percentage from the field. LCU leads the LSC and is second nationally in three-point shooting, as they are 89-of-231 (38.5%) from long range.  The Lady Chaps have shot at least 40% from outside in their last four games played.
 
> With Martie McCoy out of the lineup, LCU turned to Reese Schumann to make her first three starts of the season (only one career start prior). Schumann has taken advantage of the opportunity, as she has averaged 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over the games she has started. She produced a career high Thursday (at ENMU) with 24 points and has matched a career high in rebounds in each of the past two games (10 rebounds in each game).
 
CONFERENCE CONVERSATION
For a fourth time (fifth season in LSC), LCU jumped out to a 2-0 start in LSC play and they head into the Saturday 8-1 in LSC action (best nine-game start to conference since 13-0 LSC record in 2020-21). They are coming off a conference win (73-57 win over Eastern New Mexico Thursday), which put them 5-0 this season in LSC road games. Grace Foster leads LCU in LSC play with an average of 19.7 points a game (leads the LSC). She is joined in a double-figure scoring pace by Audrey Robertson (15.8 points, 6^th in LSC). Foster, who leads LCU with a pace of 7.0 rebounds per game, is 38-of-44 (86.4%) from the free-throw line and spearheads a squad that is shooting 72.5% (103/142) from the line in conference action.

NATIONALLY KNOWN (OR UNKNOWN)
Despite returning five starters from a regional-finalist squad, which also shared a divisional title, LCU did not garner the attention of voters in the preseason. This season, LCU received Top-25 votes in the WBCA Preseason Poll, but it is their first time they did not make the Top-25 for a WBCA preseason poll since the start of the 2017-18 season (second time not in a WBCA Preseason Poll since becoming eligible for the poll in 2015-16… WBCA did not conduct a preseason poll in 2020-21 due to COVID). Also, since joining NCAA Division II (2015-16 was their first postseason eligible season), the Lady Chaps have appeared in every D2CSC Preseason Poll until this season, as they also received votes in the D2CSC Top-25 Preseason Poll. LCU was ranked as high as No.18 in the D2CSC rankings (earlier this season), but currently they are receiving votes.

SO ARE SOME OTHERS
LCU fell to No.12 Southern Nazarene (Nov. 25), placing them with a 0-2 record this season against nationally ranked programs (lost to No.17 Union in their season opener). LCU went 6-0 against nationally ranked programs in 2020-21, 3-2 in 2021-22 (opened 3-0) and 2-5 last season against Top-25 competition. Of LCU's three losses this season, two of the opponents have been nationally ranked and the other opponent was receiving votes.

ROAD REVELATIONS
The Lady Chaparrals, who went 8-4 on the road last season, is off to a 6-1 road record this season. They have won their last five road games. Audrey Robertson leads LCU in road scoring with 15.7 points a game. LCU has three players averaging double-figures in scoring on the road, as Grace Foster (14.7) and Macy Maddox (11.1) join Robertson. Foster leads LCU with 6.1 rebounds in road-play. LCU is shooting 78.1% (89/114) from the line on the road, compared to 62.2% (56/90) by the home team (Grace Foster is 28-of-30 from the line on the road). Maddox is showing balance on the road, as she has 2.0 steals and 4.0 assists per game to go along with her 11.1 points per game.

SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
The Lady Chaps, who went 12-2 at home last season, are 6-2 this season at home. On Feb. 2, 2023, 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. LCU also went 11-0 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

EYE-OPENING
The 2023-24 season marks LCU's 11th since leaving the NAIA and LCU has a 279-50 record (84.8%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 24-3 all-time (88.9%). 
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT WNMU
1 > The Mustangs completed the 2022-23 season with a 10-16 record last season, which included a 8-14 conference record and a share of fourth place in the West Division (7-7 divisional record). The 10-win season was their best finish since a 10-win 2018-19 season.
2 > Western New Mexico fell Thursday to West Texas A&M 69-62 despite 16 points from Sydney Wright. The loss was their fifth consecutive loss (have not won a game in the 2024 calendar year) and they take a 7-7 record into Saturday's contest. They are 2-7 in conference and seeking their first West Division win (0-5).
3 > WNMU is slated to finish 12th the LSC this season, as they were ranked No.12 (of 16) in the conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll. They were picked seventh in the West Division.
4 > The Mustangs rank second in the LSC in blocks per game with a pace of 3.9 per contest. Eliza Joynes is second in the LSC with an average of 1.25 blocks per game and has 20 on the season (fourth in LSC).
5 > Sydney Wright is the lone Mustangs member averaging double figures offensively, as she averages 12.4 points per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST WNMU
The Mustangs and Lady Chaps are set to meet for the 27th time in an all-time series that dates back to 1980. WNMU has not defeated the Lady Chaps since 1994, which has led to LCU taking a 16-10 series advantage. LCU has won the prior 12 meetings, with the latest resulting in a 54-40 LCU win Feb. 9 in Silver City, N.M. LCU is 6-3 in Silver City, N.M. against WNMU (five straight wins). The 2019-20 season's home-and-home conference schedule marked the first time the two teams had a home-and-home set scheduled in a single season since 1994, when each were members of the NAIA.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. WNMU
Top-three LCU active career leaders against ENMU:
 
Grace Foster 4gp, 13.8 points p/g, 5.8 reb. p/g
Audrey Robertson 6gp, 5.3 points p/g, 7/8 ft
Maci Maddox 6gp, 4.0 points p/g, 2.5 assists p/g

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. WNMU
Feb. 9, 2023 (Silver City, N.M.) – LCU: 54 – WNMU: 40
Lubbock Christian University held Western New Mexico to 14 points in the second half and overcame a halftime deficit, behind 15 points in the second half from Grace Foster, as the Lady Chaparrals moved into first place of Lone Star Conference's West Division with a 54-40 victory at Drag's Court.
 
Inside the final three minutes of the second quarter, as WNMU led 22-19, the momentum started to shift. Martie McCoy hit a jumper to start a 6-0 LCU run, which helped LCU take a 25-22 lead. The Mustangs closed the half with the final four points of the half to take a 26-25 lead into the break.
 
It would be the final lead WNMU would have, as LCU never trailed after Maci Madox and Audrey Robertson had field goals to open the second half with LCU taking a 29-26 lead. WNMU went the first two-and-a-half minutes of the half without a field goal and a span of 7:24 with one field goal. Meanwhile, Foster was supplying the offense for LCU. She had 10 points in the third quarter and her first eight points helped LCU take a 39-31 lead with 2:36 remaining in the quarter. Her final bucket of the quarter was tallied with 31 seconds left and gave LCU a 43-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
WNMU was held to four points in the fourth quarter and their first points were not scored until Alina Simon had a layup with 2:42 remaining. By that time, the game was out of reach. Foster continued her hot half with LCU's first five points of the fourth quarter, as she personally had a 7-0 run, which was part of LCU's 11-0 run for a 52-36 lead with 6:12 left. LCU went the rest of the way without a field goal, but was only outscored 4-2 for the game's remainder.
 
LCU's defense held WNMU to 5-of-25 (20%) from the field in the second half. Overall, WNMU was held to a 28.6% shooting mark from the field (16/56). They were a miserable 7.7% (1/13) from three-point range in the contest. LCU was 41.7% (20/48) from the field and sub-par from outside at 21.4% (3/14).
 
Foster led LCU with 24 points and was 8-of-11 inside the arc (72.7%). She also led LCU with seven rebounds. Maddox joined Foster in double figures with 11 points. LCU claimed victory despite a season-low mark in rebounds with 27. They were out-rebounded 36-27.
 
WNMU (7-15, 5-12) had Susi Namao and Diamond Moore co-lead the Mustangs offense with 11 points each. Moore was 5-of-7 from the field, while the rest of the team was a combined 22.4% (11/49).