CANYON, Texas (November 3, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University caps off their opening weekend at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic with a key regional matchup, taking on Black Hills State University at 11 a.m. inside the First United Bank Center.
 

D2CCA TIPOFF CLASSIC
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	VIDEO	RADIO	STATS
Black Hills St.	Canyon, Texas	Sun., Nov. 3	11 a.m.	Watch	Listen	Stats

 
LCU TAKEAWAYS

• Grace Foster's Dominant Start
  LCU is 1-0 after a 64-41 win over Kutztown Saturday and LCU's Grace Foster set the tone early, scoring 18 of her 21 points in the first half, which included sparking a 14-0 run to open the game/season. Her free-throw accuracy (11-of-11 in the first half) was also instrumental, providing a strong foundation for LCU's lead. She was 4-of-8 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. The 12 free-throws made was one shy of matching a career high and the 13 attempts matched a career high (her third game of her career with 13 free-throw attempts). The 12 free-throws made ties as the fifth-most in a game by a Lady Chaps member since leaving the NAIA (2012-13) and the 13 attempts tied as the eighth-most in the same time frame.

 

• Lockdown Defense and Rebounding
  The Lady Chaps held Kutztown to just 32.7% shooting and out-rebounded them 38-28. Audrey Spurgin and Kennedy Chappell led the effort on the boards, with nine rebounds each, marking a key +10 rebounding margin. The +10 margin in rebounded is their largest margin since posting a +16 rebound margin (46-30) on Feb. 11, 2023 against Eastern New Mexico.

 

• 3-Point Shooting Shines
  LCU capitalized on three-point shooting, hitting eight treys during the game. This outside scoring helped LCU control the pace and maintain their lead, mirroring a similar strategy used in several of their games last season. LCU made at least eight three-pointers in eight games last season

 

• Contributions Across the Lineup
  With 11 players contributing on the floor, the Lady Chaps' depth was clear. Non-starters scored 12 of the team's 18 points in the final quarter, showcasing LCU's strong bench and ability to maintain momentum.

 

• Season Opener Success Under Coach Gomez
  This win Saturday marked LCU's first season-opening victory since 2021, improving their record in season openers to 30-16 overall, and 14-8 under head coach Steve Gomez, setting a positive tone for the 2024-25 season.

 
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT BHSU
1 > Black Hills State University's women's basketball team is entering a new era with Rachel Erickson, a former BHSU player and recent Colorado State assistant, as head coach. Voted ninth in the RMAC preseason poll, BHSU returns a core of experienced players, including leading scorer Kalla Bertram and key contributors Morgan Hammerbeck, Gracie Haneborg, and Haylee Weathersby. Alongside this core, BHSU has a fresh wave of talent, including Division I transfer Taylor Ray (Colorado State) and standout freshmen like Wyoming's Bradie Schlabs and South Dakota's Sawyer Stoebner, who bring defensive strength and playmaking skills as they embark on their 2024-25 season.

2 > The Yellow Jackets finished the 2023-24 season with a solid 17-10 overall record and a 14-8 RMAC conference record, landing sixth in the standings. They had a balanced performance, winning both at home (9-5) and on the road (8-5). Notably, the team showed resilience with back-to-back wins to close the regular season. However, their playoff run was cut short with a first-round RMAC tournament loss to Adams State, 83-63. Key highlights from the season included victories over competitive teams like Colorado Mesa and Colorado School of Mines, although they struggled against top-tier teams in the RMAC standings.

3 > The Rachel Erickson era at Black Hills State started with a thrilling 57-55 win over West Texas A&M, capped by Kalla Bertram's buzzer-beating layup. Despite a slow start, the Yellow Jackets led for nearly 30 minutes and held the Lady Buffs scoreless in the final 2:30 to secure the win. Haylee Weathersby led with 18 points, while Bertram contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds. The victory marks BHSU's third straight season opener win.

4 > Mark Nore, who coached BHSU for 22 seasons, stepped down at last season's conclusion, as he was named Director of Athletics at BHSU. Nore became the program's all-time wins leader with a 390-239 record over 22 years. His tenure saw the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, multiple conference titles, and seven straight RMAC tournament appearances.

5 > Kalla Bertram returns as Black Hills State's only all-conference player, having earned All-RMAC Second Team honors last season. She averaged 9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the floor. Bertram scored 20 or more points in two games and was a reliable shooter, hitting 44.7 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST BHSU
Sunday marks the second-ever meeting between Black Hills State and Lubbock Christian, with the Lady Chaparrals leading the series 1-0. LCU claimed victory in their first encounter on March 11, 2023, winning 66-50 in the second round of the NCAA South Central Regional at Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas. LCU is 2-0 all-time against South Dakota based programs.
 
PRIOR MEETING AGAINST BHSU
San Angelo, Texas (Mar. 11, 2023) - LCU 65 – BHSU 50
The No. 7-seed Lubbock Christian University (LCU) Lady Chaparrals secured a decisive 66-50 victory against the No. 6-seed Black Hills State Yellow Jackets in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional semifinals, clinching their sixth Sweet Sixteen berth. This win also marked head coach Steve Gomez's milestone 500th career victory, achieved entirely at LCU during his 20-season tenure.
 
From the outset, the Lady Chaps showcased their offensive prowess, never trailing in the game. After a strong start, LCU took a 16-11 lead into the second quarter, where their shooting touch continued. Shaylee Stovall and Audrey Robertson ignited a scoring run with back-to-back three-pointers, pushing the Lady Chaps' lead to 22-13 early in the quarter. Grace Foster was instrumental in building LCU's largest first-half lead at 31-15, contributing seven points in the second quarter alone.
 
Black Hills State struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 25% of their three-point attempts, and finished with a shooting percentage of 32.7% overall. Despite a late surge, including a three-pointer from Megan Engesser that cut LCU's lead to 45-34, the Yellow Jackets couldn't close the gap. LCU responded with a quick 6-0 run to extend their lead to 18 points, solidifying their control of the game.
 
Foster led the Lady Chaps with 17 points, marking a historic moment as she became the second player in program history to surpass 300 rebounds in a single season. Maddox and Stovall each added 13 points, with Stovall scoring 11 of her points in the first half.