LUBBOCK, Texas (November 21, 2024) – It is not even Thanksgiving and the No. 11 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals are set to dive into Lone Star Conference action, hosting St. Edward's Thursday at 5:30 p.m. inside the Rip Griffin Center.

LSC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	VIDEO	RADIO	STATS
St. Edward's	Rip Griffin Center	Thur., Nov. 21	5:30 p.m.	Watch	Listen	Stats

 
MOUNTAIN CLIMBED
The Lady Chaps improved to 5-0 on the season Saturday, as they secured a dominant 78-56 home-opening win over Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS). Grace Foster led with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while Maci Maddox added 16 points. The Lady Chaps excelled from the free-throw line (28-of-30) and beyond the arc (8-of-16), outrebounding UCCS 43-30. LCU forced 13 turnovers, converting them into 16 points. Taylor Thomas matched a career-high with nine points in her return, and Kennedy Chappell contributed four offensive boards. UCCS standout Maison White posted a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double, but LCU's balanced effort extended their dominance in home openers under Coach Steve Gomez.
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 FACTS ABOUT THE LADY CHAPS
1 > Foster The Force: Grace Leads the Way: Grace Foster continues to dominate on both ends of the court. She ranks first in the Lone Star Conference in scoring (21.0 PPG) and rebounds (46 total), as well as fourth in blocks per game (1.6). Nationally, the returning All-American is 20th in scoring and 18th in rebounds, underscoring her status as one of the premier players in Division II. Foster's efforts have also propelled her to lead the conference in defensive rebounds per game with 8.2.
 
2 > Three-Point Efficiency Sets the Tone: LCU's precision from beyond the arc is electric, ranking 12th nationally and first in the Lone Star Conference at 42.0%. Audrey Robertson has been lights-out, hitting 63.6% of her attempts, making her third in the conference. She leads the LSC and is 17^th nationally with 14 made three-pointers on the season.
 
3 > Defensive Tenacity: The Lady Chaps' defense remains a hallmark of their success, allowing just 50.6 points per game—23rd nationally and fourth in the LSC. Opponents are held to a stingy 33.2% field goal percentage (38th nationally), a testament to LCU's commitment to lockdown defense.
 
4 > Free Throw Precision Pays Off: At the stripe, LCU is automatic. The team ranks first in the Lone Star Conference and 25th nationally in free-throw percentage, converting 79.8% of their attempts. Grace Foster leads the team with 26 made free throws, ranking her first in the conference. Saturday, the Lady Chaps had 28 points from the free-throw line, as they shot 93.3% (28-of-30) from the free-throw line. The last time LCU had more than 28 points from the line was Nov. 6, 2022, as they had 29 against Missouri Western (neutral site game in Kansas City, Mo.).
 
5 > Owning the Defensive Glass: LCU is a dominant force on the boards, pulling down 31.4 defensive rebounds per game to lead the conference and rank 22nd nationally. LCU has had a +10-or-better rebound margin in four of their five games this season.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
Saturday, LCU improved to 20-2 in home openers under Steve Gomez, as they are 1-0 at home this season.
 
On Feb. 2, 2023, LCU's NCAA Division II record home win streak ended at 113 games with a loss to Angelo State. The defeat marked the Lady Chaps' first home loss since Jan. 1, 2015, against Oklahoma City University. During the streak, LCU also posted a 7-0 record in NCAA postseason play in Lubbock (excluding a 4-0 mark in LSC postseason play) and won 88 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring on Jan. 10, 2013, also against Oklahoma City. LCU achieved a perfect 49-0 record in Heartland Conference home games and went 11-0 against nationally ranked opponents during the streak.

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 2024-25 season marks LCU's 12th since leaving the NAIA and LCU is 292-57 record (83.7%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 24-4 all-time (85.7%).
 
BACK IN THE RANKINGS
Lubbock Christian University's women's basketball team entered the 2024-25 season ranked No. 17 in the D2CSC Women's Basketball Division II Top-25 Preseason Poll, a notable return to national prominence after an unusual preseason absence last year.
 
In-season polls are now out for both national Division II polling organizations, with LCU ranked No.11 by D2CSC and No.19 by WBCA.
 
CONFERENCE OPENERS
This season marks LCU's sixth season in the Lone Star Conference. Thursday's game marks LCU's conference opener and the game is their 31^st conference opener (six Heartland Conference and 19 Sooner Athletic Conference openers prior to joining the LSC). The Lady Chaps, 4-1 in LSC openers, went 11-8 all-time in SAC openers and 5-1 in HC openers. They are 18-3 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez. They have won 17 of their prior 19 consecutive conference openers, defeating Oklahoma Christian on the road 69-65 in last season's LSC opener (Nov. 30, 2023). This season marks the first time LCU has opened conference play with St. Edward's and the meeting is their earliest meeting since a Nov. 18, 1995 meeting in Brownwood, Texas (both programs were NAIA programs at the time)..
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT SEU
1 > St. Edward's faced a daunting non-conference schedule, starting 3-4 after games against nationally ranked opponents like Simon Fraser, Gannon, and Colorado Mesa. The tough slate has sharpened the Hilltoppers ahead of Lone Star Conference play, as LCU marks the Hilltoppers' fourth nationally ranked opponent.
 
2 > Sophomore point guard J.P. Perkins showcased her all-around game at the Westminster Basketball Invitational, leading St. Edward's to a thrilling 60-57 victory over Westminster with 21 points, six assists, and three steals. Her stellar week earned her Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Perkins leads St. Edward's with 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting an efficient 46% from the field.

3 > Kiana Bennett has become a perimeter threat for St. Edward's, leading the LSC with 31 three-point attempts and shooting 35.5% from deep (11^th in the LSC).

4 > SEU is coming off a 9-19 overall mark last season, finishing sixth in the East Division (4-10). They went 6-16 in LSC play and entered this season with the No.12 ranking in the LSC Preseason Poll.

5 > The Hilltoppers rank third in the LSC in blocks per game with 3.2 per contest on the young season. Mikah Chapman and Ainsley Thunell co-lead the team with four blocks each.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST SEU
LCU has won 17 of the last 19 meetings, including the last nine, and leads the all-time series at 18-6. Last season (Feb. 22, 2024), LCU defeated SEU 66-58 in Austin. Four of the last five regular season meetings between the two programs have been played in Lubbock, where LCU is 10-0 all-time in the series (LCU played at SEU last season for the first time since Jan. 24, 2019).
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. SEU
LCU's active career leaders against SEU:

Grace Foster 3gp, 11.3 pts, 6/9 3-FG
Audrey Robertson 3gp, 9.7 pts, 12/23 FG
Maci Maddox 3gp, 8.0 pts, 2.0 steals
 
PRIOR MEETING AGAINST SEU
AUSTIN, Texas (FEB. 22, 2024) - LCU 66 – SEU 58
LCU claimed a 66-58 road victory over St. Edward's in a Lone Star Conference matchup, using timely second-half runs and standout performances to secure the win.
 
Audrey Robertson led the Lady Chaps with 19 points and five assists, while Maci Maddox added 16 points and four steals. Grace Foster contributed 12 points. Both teams shot over 50% early, but LCU's defensive intensity proved critical. The Lady Chaps forced 18 turnovers and converted them into a 19-12 edge in points-off-turnovers. Maddox's four steals highlighted LCU's effort. Offensively, LCU excelled from three-point range, shooting 42.1% (8-of-19). Robertson, Foster, Maddox, and Taylor Thomas each knocked down two treys, with Thomas setting a career high by hitting back-to-back threes during a pivotal third-quarter stretch.
 
Trailing 34-33 at halftime, LCU surged in the third quarter with an 18-13 advantage, capped by Thomas's pair of threes during a 6-0 run that extended their lead to 49-39. SEU battled back with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit, but LCU entered the fourth quarter with a 50-47 lead. A 7-2 run early in the final frame, punctuated by Robertson's three-pointer, helped the Lady Chaps secure a nine-point cushion. Neither team scored in the final 4:14 of the game, but LCU's earlier runs were enough to seal the victory.
 
SEU was led by Ainsley Thunell and J.P. Perkins, who scored 15 points each. The Hilltoppers shot 50% in the first half but finished at 43.9% after going cold down the stretch.