LUBBOCK, Texas (January 9, 2025) – After playing six of their last seven games on the road, including four against top-10 opponents and another receiving top-25 votes, No. 18 Lubbock Christian University returns to Rip Griffin Center for a pair of Lone Star Conference West Division matchups. The Lady Chaparrals will host Sul Ross State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Western New Mexico on Saturday at 1 p.m.
  

LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	VIDEO	RADIO	STATS
Sul Ross St.	Rip Griffin Center	Thur., Jan. 9	5:30 p.m.	Watch	None	Stats

  
RIVALRY ON THE REIGN
LCU defeated West Texas A&M 70-56 in the Rivalry on the Range opener, improving to 12-3 overall and 6-1 in Lone Star Conference play. Maci Maddox led the way with 18 points and 10 assists, her second career double-double, while Audrey Robertson added 19 points, including a career-high five three-pointers. Reese Schumann chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. LCU shot 51.7% from the field and 43.5% from three-point range, while holding WT to just 31.7% shooting. The Lady Chaps dominated inside, tallying seven blocks and outrebounding the Lady Buffs 36-35. The win marked LCU's third straight victory over WT and maintained their unbeaten record (3-0) in LSC West Division play. Despite an unusual lack of free throws, LCU's efficient shooting and strong defense powered the victory
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS
1 > Grace Under Pressure: Grace Foster continues to be a force on the court, leading the Lone Star Conference in total blocks (31, 10th nationally). She is second in blocks per game (2.07, 18^th nationally).  Her offensive prowess is equally impressive, as she ranks first in the LSC and 10th nationally with 271 points (18.1 points per game is second in the LSC and 27^th nationally). Foster's consistency shines at the free-throw line, where she ranks 10th nationally and first in the LSC with 69 made free throws.
 
2 > On-Point: Maci Maddox remains the Lady Chaps' steady hand, leading the LSC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.23, 17th nationally). Maddox also ranks second in the LSC in minutes per game (36.5, 17th nationally) and is a top contributor in assists per game (3.9, second in the LSC). Her leadership helps LCU rank first in the LSC in turnovers per game (13.5), a mark that ranks 23rd nationally.
 
3 > Defensive Lockdown: LCU's defense is a hallmark of their success, ranking fourth in the LSC and 22nd nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.8%). The team also limits opponents to just 55.1 points per game (fifth in the LSC, 26th nationally). With 4.7 blocks per game, the Lady Chaps lead the LSC and rank 15th nationally, anchored by Foster and Reese Schumann's efforts in the paint.
 
4 > Charity: At the charity stripe, LCU ranks third in the LSC and 28th nationally with a 77.2% team free-throw percentage. Foster continues to lead the charge (86.3% (third in the LSC), while Kennedy Chappell (86.7%) and Maddox (84.8%) add precision to the Lady Chaps' free-throw arsenal, placing LCU among the conference's most reliable teams at the line.
 
5 > Deep Threat Duo: The Lady Chaps are making waves beyond the arc, ranking second in the LSC and 23rd nationally in three-point percentage (35.4%). Foster (fourth in the LSC with a 41.1% shooting mark from outside) and Audrey Robertson headline the perimeter attack, with Robertson shooting 46.3% from deep (leads the LSC and is eighth nationally). Each average at least 2.0 three-pointers per game. LCU's 6.7 triples per game (as a team) place them fifth in the LSC and 83rd nationally.
 
MADDOX MAGIC
Maci Maddox earned her first Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor, ending teammate Grace Foster's streak of weekly awards this season. Maddox's stellar performances last week powered the Lady Chaps to two key conference road victories. The fifth-year guard from Lubbock tallied 14 points against Eastern New Mexico, opening with a perfect 4-of-4 shooting start in the first quarter. She followed that with a career-defining double-double of 18 points and 10 assists against West Texas A&M, with her 10 assists tying for the ninth-most in an LCU game since 2008. Maddox facilitated 70% of LCU's made field goals and added five points in a dominant third quarter where the Lady Chaps extended their lead to 22 points. For the week, Maddox totaled 32 points, 13 assists, and showcased her leadership as LCU remained unbeaten in West Division play, tied atop the LSC standings. She leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.23) and ranks second in assists (3.9 per game). This is Maddox's second career LSC weekly honor, her first offensively, and LCU's fifth weekly accolade of the season. She is now just 11 points shy of 1,000 career points.
 
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 1,581 career points ranks 15th among active NCAA Division II players and places her within striking distance of the program's all-time top five scorers; she needs 145 points to overtake Emily Pool (Atkins) for fifth place. In addition, Foster has 742 career rebounds, which has her ranking fifth in program history. She needs 97 rebounds to pass Darla Lynch (838, 1979-83) to move into fourth in program history.  Audrey Robertson (sitting with 1,174 career points) joined Foster in the 1,000-point club in career points, earlier this season, and Maci Maddox is on track to join them soon with 989 points—11 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.
 
AIN'T THAT TOUGH ENOUGH
The Lady Chaps have made a run through the gauntlet of late, playing five of their last seven games against teams either nationally ranked or receiving votes, including four top-10 nationally ranked teams, and all games have been on the road. According to the NCAA's "toughest schedules" ranking, LCU's schedule is rated seventh in the nation (or sixth when excluding Puerto Rico-based programs, which often skew the data), with their opponents boasting a combined win percentage of 65.6%. Looking ahead, LCU's remaining schedule is ranked 244th out of 301 programs, with their upcoming opponents holding a combined win percentage of just 43.2%—the lowest among all Lone Star Conference teams.
 
CONFERENCE CONVERSATION 
LCU boasts a 6-1 record in Lone Star Conference play, tied with five additional teams for the best conference mark. In the West Division, the Lady Chaps remain a frontrunner with a perfect 3-0 divisional record (LCU and UT Permian Basin are the only 3-0 teams in the West Division). Their success has been driven by balanced efforts on both ends of the court. Grace Foster continues to lead the team, in LSC play, with 13.6 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 43.8% from the field and a stellar 87.9% from the free-throw line. Audrey Robertson has also been a key contributor, averaging 11.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc and 77.3% at the line. Defensively, LCU has held opponents to 53.9 points per game, limiting them to just 33.5% shooting from the field. The Lady Chaps also average 5.4 blocks per game, with Foster and Reese Schumann providing strong rim protection. Offensively, free-throw shooting remains a team strength, as they convert 78.0% of their attempts. Although they are slightly out-rebounded (-1.0 margin), LCU's defense and efficient scoring have propelled them to a +9.1 scoring margin in conference play.
 
SWEET HOME (ON CHICAGO) 
LCU has been dominant at home, achieving a perfect 5-0 record this season, including 3-0 in conference play. They are averaging 72.8 points per game while holding opponents to 55.0 points, achieving a scoring margin of +17.8 points. Offensively, they have been efficient, shooting 44.0% from the field, 36.0% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 82.0% from the free-throw line, where they average 20.0 points per game. Defensively, they have limited opponents to 33.5% shooting while maintaining a rebounding advantage of +5.0 boards per game. Grace Foster has been a standout performer, leading the team with averages of 19.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Supporting her are Audrey Robertson and Maci Maddox, each averaging 10.8 points per game. Foster has also been consistent from the free-throw line, converting 82.8% of her attempts. The team has demonstrated balance, averaging 14.4 assists per game compared to 12.0 turnovers, resulting in a solid 1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. LCU's defense has been a key factor, highlighted by 4.8 blocks and 6.0 steals per game. Their ability to control the game flow is further evidenced by their scoring consistency across all quarters, particularly a dominant third quarter where they've outscored opponents 105-64.
 
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 299-60 record (83.3%) 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.18. LCU is 1-3 against nationally ranked programs this season and each have been against programs in the top-10 nationally.
 
FIVE THINGS ABOUT SRSU
1 > In their inaugural season competing in NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference (LSC), Sul Ross State women's basketball has faced a challenging start, holding a 2-8 overall record and a 1-6 mark in conference play. Transitioning from Division III, the Lady Lobos have struggled against a tough slate of opponents, currently enduring a seven-game losing streak. Both of their wins came at home, including a victory over Western New Mexico, but they remain winless in road games. Despite their early setbacks, Sul Ross State is navigating the challenges of a higher level of competition in a competitive LSC environment.
 
2 > Sul Ross State has faced challenges scoring consistently, averaging 59.9 points per game compared to opponents' 76.7, resulting in a -16.8 scoring margin. Their .362 field goal shooting percentage from the field has been held back by a three-point shooting mark oft .247 (only pacing 3.6 made threes per game). Turnovers have been a relative strength, with a 4.8 margin over opponents.

3 > Rebounding has been a significant issue, with Sul Ross being outrebounded by an average of 15.9 boards per game (278 total rebounds to opponents' 437). This disparity impacts second-chance opportunities, as Sul Ross averages only 8.2 offensive rebounds per game.
 
4 > On defense, Sul Ross has allowed opponents to shoot an efficient .463 from the field and .354 from beyond the arc, giving up 8.1 three-pointers per game. They average only 0.2 blocks per game while opponents dominate with 4.4. However, their active hands have yielded 9.2 steals per game, highlighting moments of defensive energy.

5 > Freshman TaMaiya Mims is an important part of the Lobos Sul Ross, leading the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game and contributing 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. She has been consistent offensively, shooting .391 from the field and getting to the free-throw line frequently (48 attempts). Mims' all-around game and durability (31.4 minutes per game) has led to her scoring double figures (in points) in all but three games this season.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST SRSU
LCU leads the all-time regular season series 39-12 in regular season play. They last met in regular season play on Nov. 21, 2006 with LCU claiming a 70-46 win. The Lady Chaps have won the prior 27 meetings. Sul Ross's last win was Jan. 6, 1989. The two teams were never Sooner Athletic Conference foes, but did compete against each other as conference foes in the TIAA (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association) and served in the same NAIA district (NAIA used to use Districts for postseason play). The two teams did meet in an exhibition game on Nov. 5, 2016, with Bailey Haist registering 15 points en route to a 73-45 win in Alpine, Texas.
 
PRIOR MEETING AGAINST SRSU
ALPINE, Texas (Nov. 1, 2006) – LCU 70– SRSU 46
Ashley Hunter (15 points) and Kim Lloyd (14 points) combined for 29 points to help lead LCU to a 70-46 road win at Sul Ross State. LCU shot 50% from the field in the win, and received 11 assists from Sierra Lovorn.