LONE STAR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
QUARTERFINALS
No.4-Seed TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (24-6) vs No.5-seed LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (21-8)
Mar. 8, 2024 • 8:30 PM
Frisco, Texas • Comerica Center (6,000)
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
Texas A&M Int'l	Frisco, Texas	Fri. Mar. 8	8:30 p.m.	Video	Stats

GAME NOTES (PDF)

TOURNEY TIME
The West Division Champion Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals head to the Lone Star Conference Championships as the No.5-seed and they open their LSC Championship play Friday night at 8:30 p.m. facing No.4-seed Texas A&M International. This season marks LCU's fifth season in the LSC and this is the second season in which the tournament is an eight-team field (it was 12 the prior three seasons to 2022-23), so all eight teams in the women's basketball bracket play their first games of the championships in Frisco, Texas with quarterfinal action Friday. For a third consecutive season, LCU opens their first game in Frisco playing the 8:30 p.m. designated contest.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat TAMIU, they will improve to 22-8 on the season and will advance to the tournament Semifinals game to face either No.1-seed Texas Woman's or No.8-seed Arkansas Fort Smith Saturday at 6 p.m. in Frisco.
 
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Dustdevils, their record will drop to 21-9, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will await an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament (eight-team tournament). The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show will air Sunday, Mar. 10 at 9:30
p.m. on NCAA.com.

RANGE ROVING
LCU closed out the regular season sweeping the Rivalry on the Range rivalry series home-and-home set against West Texas A&M. LCU opened with a 75-68 win inside Rip Griffin Center before claiming a 61-58 win Saturday in Canyon, Texas. Grace Foster was a big factor in LCU's success on the week. She led LCU on the week in points (20.5 average) and rebounds (8.0 per game), opening the week with 19 points and nine rebounds in a near-double-double performance. At West Texas A&M, Foster produced her 11th performance this season with at least 20 points, as she finished with 22 points in LCU's victory. On the week, Foster was 15-of-16 (93.8%) from the free-throw line. As a team, LCU 33-of-37 (89.2%) at the line in the pair of games against WT.
 
RECOGNIZED
Wednesday, the opening event to kick off the 2024 LSC Championship was the awards reception and dinner, as the LSC announced and recognized the All-Conference and specialty award winners. Grace Foster highlighted the night for LCU, as she claimed the LSC Academic Player of the Year and became the second Lady Chap to ever receive the honor in the LSC. Foster joined 2020 recipient Maddi Chitsey (Crisler), and was also LCU's lone First Team All-Conference selection. Here were the recipients for LCU:
 
Grace Foster – First Team
Maci Maddox – Second Team
Audrey Robertson – Second Team
Kennedy Chappell – Freshman Team

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 78.3% of their attempts (369/471, seventh nationally) and averaging 12.7 points a game from the line (113^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 104-of-116 on the season (.897, leads the LSC and seventh nationally), which leads the squad (of qualifiers). Shaylee Stovall, who is 42-of-46 (91.3%), 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 fourth in the LSC with an average of 15.8 points per game and Audrey Robertson is ranking 14th in the LSC with 13.8 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 sixth at 32.9). Maddox is fourth in the LSC with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.0 (has a 2.3 ratio in LSC play).

> Foster is averaging 6.3 rebounds per game (14th in the LSC), but is eighth in the LSC averaging 5.3 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 54 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 23 of 29 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 55^th nationally with a 42.5% shooting percentage from the field. LCU leads the LSC and is sixth nationally in three-point shooting, as they are 163-of- 440 (37.0%) 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 when the dust settled, LCU finished 16-6 in conference and tied for fourth place in the overall LSC standings. They closed out the regular season with a pair of West Division wins to claim the West Division title for a second consecutive season and a third time overall (LSC has not always used divisions year-to-year). Grace Foster led LCU in LSC play with an average of 15.7 points a game (sixth in the LSC). She was joined in a double-figure scoring pace by Audrey Robertson (14.8 points, ninth in LSC) and Maci Maddox (10.1 points). Foster went a conference-best 62-of-70 (88.6%) from the free-throw line (leads LSC) and spearheads a squad that led the LSC shooting 75.9% (249/328) from the line in conference action. Reese Schumann led LCU on the boards in LSC action, with a pace of 6.5 rebounds a contest.
 
TOURNEY TALK

Lubbock Christian is appearing in their fifth LSC conference tournament (LSC Championship). The Lady Chaps hold a 9-2 all-time record in LSC Championship tournament games (5-2 in Frisco). LCU won the tournament in 2020 and 2021(both over Texas A&M-Commerce). LCU's all-time leading scorer in LSC Championship play is Allie Schulte (now Allie Hicks), who had 112 career points in nine career games (average of 12.4 points per game, which also leads LCU's career LSC Championship marks). Grace Foster leads the active roster historically in the LSC Championships with an average of 12.2 points in five games (61 total). She is 6-of-12 (50%) from three-point rand and 15-of-15 from the free-throw line in her career in the tournament. The Lady Chaps average 70.0 points historically in championships play, with a field goal shooting mark of 44.5%. They are 40.9% from the perimeter and 81.9% from the line historically. LCU averages an allowance of 60.9 points per game historically and their defense has a pace of holding opponents to 38% shooting from the field.
 
LCU's ALL-TIME LSC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
2019-2020
Caitlyn Cunyus (MVP)
Allie Schulte
Maddi Chitsey
 
2020-2021
Emma Middleton (MVP)
Channing Cunyus
Allie Schulte

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
Following a pair of losses, falling to No.13 Texas Woman's (Jan. 25) and UT Tyler (Jan. 27), LCU fell to 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. Lubbock Christian
5. Adams State
6. Texas at Tyler
7. Colorado School of Mines         
8. Texas Permian Basin    
9. Colorado-Colorado Springs
10. Texas A&M International

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
 
PUT IT IN NEUTRAL
Friday will mark LCU's second neutral site game of the season. Their only prior neutral site game on the season was Nov. 11 in Lakewood, Colo., as LCU defeated Colorado State Pueblo 71-60. LCU was 23-of-26 (88.5%) in the game and was paced by a combined 44 points from Grace Foster (24 points) and Maci Maddox (20 points).

EYE-OPENING
The 2023-24 season marks LCU's 11th since leaving the NAIA and LCU has a 287-55 record (83.9%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 24-3 all-time (88.9%).  
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT TAMIU
1 > The Dustdevils are coming off a 13-17 season from last season, which included a conference record of 6-16 and a 4-10 record in the East Division to share sixth place in the eight-team division. They opened last season with an 11-4 record over their first 15 games. TAMIU avoided the pitfalls this season and they have a 24-6 overall record and finished tied for fourth place in the LSC (16-6) and third place in the East Division (10-4). They closed the regular season winning going 9-2 over their final 11 games.
2 > The Dustdevils were picked to finish 13th in the LSC this season, as they took the No.13 spot (of 16) in the conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
3 > Texas A&M International had four players recognized with LSC postseason honors. Reigning LSC Offensive Player of the Week Raina Brown was named First Team and was also placed on the All-Defensive Team. Malea Jackson (Third Team), Telisha Brown (Honorable Mention) and Ngozi Obineke (Honorable Mention) were also recognized with honors.
4 > TAMIU ranks fifth in the nation with an average of 18.0 assists per game (they averaged 4.0 assists per game more at home than on the road). Obineke (85), Telisha Brown (85) and Samiyah Worrell (83) each registered over 80 assists on the season.
5 > The Dustdevils rank seventh nationally with a scoring average of 79.0 points per game. Raiana Brown leads the offense for the Dustdevils, averaging 20.2 points per game, which leads the LSC and is ninth nationally.

THE SERIES AGAINST TAMIU
LCU leads the all-times series 19-3 against TAMIU. The Lady Chaps won the first five meetings and also had a 14-game win streak in the series until falling 60-47 last season (Dec. 8, 2022) in Laredo (TAMIU has won the last two meetings). The Lady Chaps (4-2 in LSC matches) went 12-1 against TAMIU while the two were Heartland Conference members. LCU and TAMIU have never met at the LSC Championships. They met twice in the Heartland Conference Championships in Tulsa, Okla., with LCU claiming wins in 2019 (91-43 on Mar. 7, 2019) and 2018 (78-42 on Mar. 1, 2018) to give LCU a 2-0 record in the postseason meetings between the two programs.
 
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. TAMIU
LCU's active career leaders against TAMIU:

Grace Foster 3gp, 13.3 pts p/g, 7/14 3-fg
Reese Schumann 2gp, 4.5 pts p/g,7.5 reb. p/g
Maci Maddox / Audrey Robertson 5gp, 4.4 pts p/g

PRIOR MEETING VS. TAMIU
December 10, 2023 – Lubbock, Texas – TAMIU 65 – LCU 60
Grace Foster scored 27 points to surpass 1,000 career points as a member of Lubbock Christian University, but her performance was not enough to claim a victory in the No.20 Lady Chaps first Lone Star Conference home game of the season, as Texas A&M International overcame a 15-point deficit to hand LCU a 65-60 loss Sunday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
LCU fell to 7-3 overall and the loss marked their first Lone Star Conference loss of the season (2-1). Foster led the Lady Chaps with 27 points and two blocks. She was the lone Lady Chaps member with double figures in points, as the Lady Chaps offense was woeful in the second half.
 
Neither team demonstrated ball security, as the two teams combined for 45 turnovers (season-high 24 by LCU). Shaylee Stovall had a trio of steals to lead the way individually for the Lady Chaps.
 
How It Happened
LCU started off strong, putting together a 17-9 lead heading into the second quarter. Lubbock Christian capitalized on seven Texas A&M International turnovers in the period, turning them into six points on the other end of the floor. LCU's defense held TAMIU to two field goals in the frame, as the Dustdevils were 2-of-11 (18.2%) in the opening quarter. Foster posted nine points in the quarter and had LCU shoot 5-of-9 from the field (55.6%) in the opening 10 minutes.
 
Lubbock Christian kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 6:11 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Foster, to increase its lead to 31-16 (LCU's largest lead of the game). The Dustdevils cut into that lead with a 9-0 run to end the first half, but the Lady Chaps still enjoyed a 31-25 advantage heading into halftime. Lubbock Christian was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 14 points. Foster had both three-pointers to finish with six points in the quarter and 15 points in the half.
 
Stovall had a layup to put LCU up 33-25 in the opening possession of the second half, but TAMIU began chipping away at the deficit. An 11-3 TAMIU run put TAMIU up 44-41 and they took a 47-46 lead into the fourth quarter. LCU had 15 points in the quarter and 10 were from Foster, who surpassed 1,000 on her fourth point of the quarter, which occurred on one of two of her three-pointers she connected on during the quarter.
 
With 4:10 remaining in the game, Audrey Robertson had a layup to cut LCU's deficit to 58-57, but LCU went the next four minutes without a field goal. The Lady Chaps missed eight consecutive field goal attempts in the span, as TAMIU was able to hold on for the win despite closing the game 1-of-7 from the field in the final five minutes.
 
LCU was 5-of-18 from the field in the quarter (27.8%) and they were 37% (10/27) from the field in the half. Foster had 12 of LCU's 29 points in the second half.