LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 18, 2024) – No. 7 Lubbock Christian University heads to South Point Arena this week for the Holiday Hoops Classic, where the stakes are high. The Lady Chaps open play Thursday at 11 a.m. (Central) against No. 8 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) before taking on No. 3 Montana State Billings Friday at 11 a.m. (Central).
 

HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	VIDEO	RADIO	STATS
Embry-Riddle	Las Vegas, Nev.	Thur., Dec. 19	11 a.m.	Watch	None	Stats

UNWRAPPING GIFTS
LCU dominated St. Mary's 71-43 inside Rip Griffin Center, powered by a season-high 34 bench points Thursday. The Lady Chaps (10-1, 4-1) had double-figure scoring from Martie McCoy and Audrey Spurgin. Grace Foster contributed nine rebounds, five points, and three blocks. LCU's offense hit 10 threes, with eight different players connecting from deep (McCoy and Maddie Moyers each nailed two). Defensively, LCU controlled the paint, finishing with seven blocks while holding StMU to 26.8% shooting. A 27-6 run spanning the first and second quarters put LCU in control, and they stretched their lead to as much as 30 in the final frame. The Lady Chaps remain unbeaten at home (5-0) and against St. Mary's in Lubbock (13-0). LCU dominated the glass with a 37-27 rebound edge.
 
AND GIFTS FROM THE LSC
Monday, LCU's Grace Foster earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season, marking her fourth overall weekly recognition in women's basketball from the LSC this year. Foster anchored the defense in their victory over St. Mary's Thursday with a game-high three blocks, pacing an LCU squad that out-blocked the LSC's top shot-blocking team 7-1. The senior from Childress, Texas also pulled down nine rebounds (third-best in the conference at 9.0 defensive rebounds per game for the week), helping LCU to a decisive +10 rebound margin against a St. Mary's team that entered the game second in the LSC and 26th nationally in rebound margin. Foster led the conference with 3.0 blocks per game this week. Her defensive impact disrupted St. Mary's shooting to a season-low 26.8% from the field, marking the second time this season Foster and the Lady Chaps held an opponent under 30%. She received her fourth LSC weekly honor of the season (third Defensive Player of the Week) and the 11th of her career (her fourth for offense).
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS
1 > Foster's Dominance Shines: Grace Foster leads the Lone Star Conference in total blocks (21, 13^th nationally), defensive rebounds per game (7.6, 10th nationally) and free-throw percentage (87.9%, 32^nd nationally). Additionally, she is second in total points (207, 17th nationally) and points per game (18.8), and third in field goal percentage (49.3%), three-pointers made (24) and three-point percentage (42.9%, 35^th nationally).
 
2 > On-Point: Maci Maddox remains indispensable as LCU's floor general. She ranks second in the LSC in minutes per game (35.7) and ranks 32^nd nationally. Her assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.00 places her second in the conference and 36^th nationally, while her 38 total assists rank third in the LSC. Maddox's control has been pivotal in LCU maintaining the LSC's fourth-best assist-to-turnover ratio (0.94) and committing just 13.4 turnovers per game, the 23rd-best mark in D-II.
 
3 > Defensive Prowess: The Lady Chaps' defense continues to stifle opponents, ranking 18^th nationally in scoring defense (52.7 PPG) and ninth in field goal percentage defense (33.3%). LCU held the Rattlers to just 26.8% shooting, marking the second time this season LCU has held an opponent under 30%. LCU won the battle on the boards with a +10 rebound margin (37-27) against StMU and now averages 28.7 defensive rebounds per game, ranking second in the LSC and 37th nationally. They dominate on the boards, with their 28.7 defensive rebounds per game ranking 46th nationally and third in the LSC.
 
4 > Charity: LCU's precision at the free-throw line is a cornerstone of their success, ranking 15th nationally and second in the LSC with a 78.3% free-throw percentage. Grace Foster leads the way with 51 made free throws (20th nationally) and leads the LSC with 87.9% shooting at the line, while Maci Maddox bolsters the effort with an 84.8% conversion rate.
 
5 > Deep Threat Duo: LCU's shooting prowess extends beyond the arc, with the team ranking 25th nationally in three-point percentage (35.46). Grace Foster has knocked down 24 triples, ranking third in the LSC, while Audrey Robertson has added 21 treys, placing her fifth in the LSC. Their combined perimeter threat complements LCU's balanced offensive attack.
 
MILESTONING 
Grace Foster continues to cement her place in Lubbock Christian University history, surpassing 1,500 career points—a milestone last reached by Allie Schulte on Feb. 3, 2022. Foster's 1,517 career points rank 16th among active NCAA Division II players and place her within striking distance of the program's all-time top five scorers; she needs just 209 points to overtake Emily Pool (Atkins) for fifth place. In addition, Foster is closing in on fifth all-time in career rebounds at LCU, needing 23 to surpass Carol Hise's mark of 733. Audrey Robertson recently joined Foster in the 1,000-point club with 1,113 career points, and Maci Maddox is on track to join them soon with 940 points—60 shy of becoming LCU's third active player with 1,000 career points. If Maddox reaches the mark, it will mark the first time since the 2015-16 season that LCU has had a trio of 1,000-point scorers, following the legendary group of Haley Fowler, Nicole Hampton, and Kelsey Hoppel.
 
HOLIDAY IN VEGAS 
The Lady Chaps last attended the Holiday Hoops Classic in December 2022, falling to No.13 Georgia Southwestern State and defeating No.15 Montana State Billings.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO 
LCU has been dominant at home, achieving a perfect 5-0 record this season, including 3-0 in conference play.
 
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 297-58 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. They were receiving votes in the WBCA Preseason Poll (Division II).
 
In the latest polls, for both national Division II polling organizations, LCU is ranked No.7 by both the WBCA and D2CSC. LCU is 1-1 against nationally ranked programs this season and each have been against programs in the top-five nationally. Following this week, LCU will have played four-of-five games against programs ranked in the top-10 nationally.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT ERAU
1 > Embry-Riddle Aeronautical has had an impressive start to the 2024-25 season, boasting an undefeated 9-0 record overall and a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play. The Eagles have shown dominance at home with a 6-0 record and proven their resilience on the road, winning two away games and one at a neutral site. Their offense has been electric, averaging over 80 points per game, highlighted by a 92-78 victory over Auburn Montgomery and an 83-61 win against Montevallo. Defensively, they've held opponents under 60 points three times, including a 90-45 rout of Puerto Rico Mayaguez and an 83-51 triumph over Florida Tech. Most recently, Embry-Riddle displayed their grit in a narrow 60-57 victory against Saint Leo, maintaining their unbeaten streak. As they prepare for a neutral-site matchup against Lubbock Christian, the Eagles remain one of the hottest teams in Division II.
 
2 > The 2023-24 season was a strong campaign for the Eagles, culminating in a 20-10 overall record and a 13-7 finish in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) to secure third place. The Eagles were dominant at home with a 13-3 record, while they faced challenges on the road, going 5-6. Embry-Riddle's season was highlighted by big wins like a 101-52 blowout against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and a thrilling 59-57 road victory over Eckerd. They displayed resilience in close contests, with key wins over Barry (73-71) and Florida Southern (61-59). The Eagles earned a berth in the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament, where they narrowly fell to Tampa, 76-70, in a hard-fought matchup. Last season's success led to the Eagles being ranked No.3 in the SSC Preseason Poll.

3 > The Eagles are showcasing unparalleled efficiency, leading NCAA Division II in field goal percentage at 48.9%, a mark that also tops the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). This precision in shooting fuels their potent offense, which ranks ninth nationally and first in the SSC, averaging an impressive 81.5 points per game. Their offensive prowess is further highlighted by their ability to convert from beyond the arc, where they rank second nationally in three-point percentage at 41.7%.

4 > ERAU excels in ball distribution, ranking sixth nationally and first in the SSC with 18.6 assists per game. Junior guard Kailey Turpening plays a pivotal role, leading the conference with 6.4 assists per game, placing her seventh in the nation. Turpening's efficiency is underscored by her assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.43, which ranks 11th nationally and second in the SSC.

5 > Embry-Riddle boasts one of the deepest rosters in the SSC, ranking 24th nationally and third in the conference with 30.0 bench points per game. This balanced attack keeps their starters fresh while maintaining offensive production. Their bench contributions complement a solid defense, which holds opponents to 37.0% shooting, ranking third in the SSC, and helps the Eagles maintain a robust scoring margin of 17.4, placing them third in the conference and 23rd nationally.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST ERAU
LCU and ERAU have never met. The Lady Chaps are 3-0 all-time against Florida based programs, with the prior meeting against a Florida based program occurring Nov. 7, 2021 against Tampa (LCU won 56-44 in Billings, Mont.). The Lady Chaps defeated Rollins and Florida Southern during their title run in 2015-16, with a 73-69 win over Florida Southern on Mar. 22, 2016 at the Elite Eight Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. highlighting a NCAA postseason meeting against a Florida based program.