LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (20-8, 15-)6 at WEST TEXAS A&M (18-11, 13-8)
Mar. 1, 2024 • 1:00 PM
Lubbock, Texas • Rip Griffin Center (4,700)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
West Texas A&M	Canyon, Texas	Fri. Mar. 1	1:30 p.m.	Video	Stats

RANGE LIFE
The "Rivalry on The Range" rivalry series shifts north, as Lubbock Christian University and West Texas A&M close out the regular season Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip inside First United Bank Center. The contest has West Division title implications on the line, as a LCU win guarantees at least a share of the West Division title for LCU. The Lady Chaps and Texas Permian Basin each enter Saturday tied atop the West Division standings (UTPB plays at Angelo State Friday). In the LSC, LCU can finish in a share of fourth place with a win, but due to tiebreakers, LCU would head to the LSC Championship in Frisco, Texas as the No.5-seed. It is unofficial upon LSC announcement, but the No.5 vs. No.4 matchup is slated for Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Comerica Center.
 
THURSDAY ON THE RANGE
Audrey Robertson posted a career-high 25 points to help lead Lubbock Christian past West Texas A&M Buffaloes 75-68 Thursday in a Lone Star Conference West Division battle and their first game of the Rivalry On The Range. Robertson added six rebounds and two steals to her 25-point game to lead the Lady Chaps. Grace Foster helped out with 19 points and nine rebounds and Maci Maddox chipped in with 11 points and four assists. Along with Foster missing out on a double-double, LCU's Kennedy Chappell had eight points and eight rebounds came close as well in a productive evening. Lubbock Christian cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game. They have combined for 30 over a two-game span, which is their highest two game total since 30 on Feb. 2 and Feb. 4, 2017.
 
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 LSC leading 77.9% of their attempts (357/458, ninth nationally) and averaging 12.8 points a game from the line (117^st 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 98-of-110 on the season (.891, leads the LSC and ninth nationally), which leads the squad (of qualifiers). Shaylee Stovall, who is 41-of-45 (91.1%), has a solid percentage at the line, but does not meet the statistical qualifying mark for leaders (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 this season. Foster ranks sixth in the LSC with an average of 15.8 points per game and Audrey Robertson is ranking 13th in the LSC with 14.0 points per game. Robertson and Maci Maddox are in the top-10 in minutes played, with Maddox second in the conference (seventh in the nation) with 37.5 minutes played per game (Robertson is seventh at 32.8). Maddox is fourth in the LSC with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.0 (has a 2.2 ratio in LSC play).

> Foster is averaging 6.3 rebounds per game (14th in the LSC), but is eighth in the LSC averaging 5.9 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 52 on the season (11th in LSC) and ranks ninth in the LSC with a pace of 1.9 steals per game. She opened the season with at least one steal in the first seven games (has had at least one steal in 22 of 27 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 six games this season. As a team, LCU is third in the LSC and 50^th nationally with a 42.8% shooting percentage from the field. LCU leads the LSC and is seventh nationally in three-point shooting, as they are 154-of- 417 (36.9%) from long range.
 
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 Saturday 15-6 in LSC action, which has them in fifth place in the overall LSC standings. They are coming off a conference win (75-68 vs, WT) and they head to Canyon 7-3 in conference road play. Grace Foster leads LCU in LSC play with an average of 15.8 points a game (sixth in the LSC). She is joined in a double-figure scoring pace by Audrey Robertson (15.2 points, seventh in LSC). Foster is 56-of-64 (87.5%) from the free-throw line (leads LSC) and spearheads a squad that is shooting 75.2% (237/315) from the line in conference action. Reese Schumann leads LCU on the boards in LSC action, with a pace of 6.5 rebounds a contest.

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) and was ranked No.20 in week-nine's polls (last time LCU was ranked).

SO ARE SOME OTHERS
LCU fell to No.13 Texas Woman's (Jan. 25) UT Tyler (Jan. 27), placing them with a 0-4 record this season against nationally ranked programs (lost to No.17 Union in their season opener, No.12 Southern Nazarene on Nov. 25 prior to their losses last week to No.12 UT Tyler and No.13 TWU). 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 eight losses this season, four of the opponents have been nationally ranked and two opponents (Texas A&M International and Texas Permian Basin) were receiving votes.
 
SPEAKING OF RANKINGS
Wednesday, the NCAA released their second South Central Region rankings (first rankings are listed alphabetically) and Lubbock Christian made the list at the No.7 spot. Here are the rankings, as eight programs will receive a berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals:
1. Texas Woman's University
2. Colorado Mesa
3. Regis (Colorado)
4. Colorado School of Mines         
5. Texas at Tyler
6. Texas Permian Basin    
7. Lubbock Christian
8. Adams State
9. Colorado-Colorado Springs
10. Colorado Christian       

SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
The Lady Chaps, who went 12-2 at home last season, are 11-4 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
 
ROAD REVELATIONS
The Lady Chaparrals, who went 8-4 on the road last season, posts an 8-4 road record this season. they wrap up the regular season on the road Saturday in Canyon. Audrey Robertson leads LCU in road scoring with a pace of 14.5 points per game. LCU has three players averaging double-figures in scoring on the road, as Grace Foster (12.9) and Macy Maddox (11.5) join Robertson. Foster leads LCU with 5.5 rebounds in road-play. LCU is shooting 79.0% (132/167) from the line on the road, compared to 61.0% (94/154) by the home team (Grace Foster is 34-of-36 from the line on the road). Maddox is showing balance on the road, as she has 1.9 steals and 3.8 assists per game to go along with her 11.4 points per game.

EYE-OPENING
The 2023-24 season marks LCU's 11th since leaving the NAIA and LCU has a 286-55 record (83.9%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 24-3 all-time (88.9%).  
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT WT
1 > The Lady Buffs are 18-11 on the season, with a 13-8 record in LSC play (tied for 6th in the conference standings). They are 7-6 in the West Division this season.
2 > WT was preseason picked No.5 in the LSC Preseason Coaches Poll, as they were coming off a regional appearance last season. They went 21-11 last season.
3 > West Texas A&M had a five-game win streak snapped Thursday by LCU and they have won eight of their last 10 games.
4 > Like LCU, WT takes advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, as they are second in the conference and behind LCU with a 76.7% free-throw percentage (24^th nationally). Nyalam Thabach leads the squad with an 82.2% success rate at the line (third in LSC).
5 > Thabach is third in the LSC in blocks (34) and ranks seventh in the LSC with 7.9 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST WT
LCU and WT are separated by 110 miles, but the two teams have only met 15 prior times (12 meetings since 2020). LCU has a 9-6 series advantage, although WT has won four of the prior six meetings. The first ever meeting was on Nov. 16, 2001, with WT defeating LCU 90-53 in Canyon, Texas (LCU's 2001-02 season opener). This season, LCU has a 1-0 series advantage after a 75-68 LCU win Thursday. Last season, the two teams rounded out the regular season with a home-and-home series and the visiting team won both meetings. LCU defeated WT in Canyon 71-60 (Feb. 23, 2023) before falling in overtime in Lubbock 79-88 (Feb. 25, 2023). Of their 15 prior meetings, three have been in NCAA postseason play (LCU has 2-1 record in NCAA postseason play).
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. WT
LCU's active career leaders against WT:

Grace Foster 7gp, 12.7 pts p/g, 27/29 FT
Martie McCoy 2gp, 10.0 pts p/g,7/16 FG
Kennedy Chappell 1gp, 8.0 pts p/g, 8.0 reb. p/g

PRIOR MEETING VS. WT
February 29, 2023 – Lubbock, Texas – LCU 75 – WT 68
Audrey Robertson posted a career-high 25 points to help lead Lubbock Christian University past West Texas A&M Buffaloes 75-68 Thursday in a Lone Star Conference West Division battle and their first game of the Rivalry On The Range.
 
Robertson added six rebounds and two steals to her 25-point game to lead the Lady Chaps (20-8, 15-6). Grace Foster helped out with 19 points and nine rebounds and Maci Maddox chipped in with 11 points and four assists. Along with Foster missing out on a double-double, LCU's Kennedy Chappell had eight points and eight rebounds came close as well in a productive evening.
 
Lubbock Christian out-rebounded West Texas A&M 39-31 in Thursday's game, led by nine boards from Reese Schumann. The Lady Chaps also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points (13-7 advantage in the category).
 
How It Happened
 
After playing to a 7-7 tie early in the game, Lubbock Christian went on a 5-0 run with 6:52 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Maci Maddox, to take a 12-7 lead. Maddox and Robertson each had five points in the opening frame and LCU had a 20-16 lead through the opening quarter. Lubbock Christian capitalized on four West Texas A&M turnovers in the period, turning them into eight points on the other end of the floor (8-5 advantage in the quarter in points-off-turnovers).
 
Lubbock Christian built that first quarter lead to 30-25 before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 2:38 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Foster, to increase its lead to 37-25. The Lady Buffs cut into that lead, but the Lady Chaps still enjoyed a 37-27 advantage heading into halftime behind nine points from Robertson in the quarter (led LCU with 14 points in the first half). Lubbock Christian dominated in the paint, scoring 12 of its 17 points close to the basket (WT had two points in the paint in the quarter).
 
Lubbock Christian continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 6-0 run to expand its lead further to 53-44 with 2:41 to go in the third quarter. Robertson had LCU's only three-pointer of the quarter and had seven points in the quarter to help Lady Chaps enter the fourth quarter with a 55-47 edge.
 
The Lady Chaps then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. WT's closest deficit was 57-51 with 7:00 remaining, but LCU responded with a 12-5 scoring surge to take a 69-56 lead. LCU did not have a field goal over the final 4:26, but scored their final 10 points in the span from the line (LCU was 10-of-10 from the line in the quarter).