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| No.1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (11-2, 0-1) at TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (10-1, 1-0) January 2, 2022 • 1:00 p.m. Laredo, Texas • Kinesiology and Convocation Building (1,800) LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast WATCH ONLINE: LSC Digital Network (Online or via OTT apps including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku devices by searching “LSC Digital Network.”) LCU Social Media: |
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TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (10-1, 1-0) Location: Laredo, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Nate Vogel (Black Hills State, 2002) Roster | Stats | Game Notes |
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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN LADY CHAPS (11-2, 0-1) Location: Lubbock, Texas Conference: Lone Star Head Coach: Steve Gomez (LCU, 1988) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF) |
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NEW GAME, NEW YEAR
No.1 Lubbock Christian University aims to bounce back from their New Year’s Eve loss in their Lone Star Conference opener Sunday, as they face Texas A&M International in LSC play in Laredo, Texas. LCU fell 59-42 at Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday, which ended a 22-game conference win streak.
CHAP NOTES
- > Ashton Duncan leads LCU with 33 three-pointers, averaging 2.42 per game (fourth in the conference and ranks 69th nationally). The 33 three-pointers ranks eighth in the nation and leads the LSC (Nicole Flennaugh of Cal State LA leads the nation with 44). Duncan, who is 27 points shy of 900 career points, leads the team averaging 11.8 points per game. She is 16 three-pointers away from her 235th three-pointer, which will place her third in program history and passing Sierra Lovorn (Wilcox), who had 234 three-pointers from 2005-2009.
- > The Lady Chaps have claimed the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor in four of the six weeks the award has been issued. Allie Schulte has received the honor twice, with teammates Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson also receiving the award. Overall for Offensive and Defensive, LCU has claimed five of the 12 honors the LSC has issued this season (four defensive and one offensive).
- > Allie Schulte was a guest on the DII Nation Podcast hosted by NCAA.com writer Wayne Cavadi. The insightful interview can be viewed on YouTube at on a channel/profile labeled “Wayne Cavadi and Bethany Bowman.”
- > By a margin of three points, Schulte ranks second on the squad in scoring with an average of 11.5 points per game. She also leads the team is assists (44) and steals (36). Her 44 assists ranks third in the conference, with a pace of 3.4 per game (ninth in the LSC), and her 36 steals leads the conference. Schulte moved ahead of Jessica Dahlstrom (363, 1992-96) in their last game against Cameron and currently sits fifth all-time in program history in assists with 367. She is also seven steals away from moving past Sherry Brown (271, 1979-83) into second all-time in program history. She had seven steals Friday at TAMUK, which was the most by a Lady Chap since Nicole Hampton had seven in the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship Game against Alaska Anchorage.
- > Laynee Burr, who has two performances of at least 18 points this season, is averaging 8.6 points per game. A member of the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic at the Trailhead All-Tournament Team selection, Burr enters Sunday’s play tied for 10th in the conference in assists with 37 on the season.
- > LCU opened the season making their first 14 free-throw attempts and are 79.8% (162/203) from the free-throw line, which ranks eighth nationally. From their game against Tampa (Nov. 7) to their game at Colorado Christian (Nov.12), in which they made 13 consecutive free-throws to start the game, LCU made a sequence of 17 consecutive free-throws. They topped that mark in their opening home stand of the season, making 43 consecutive free-throws (They made 28 straight free-throws in their game against Lander as part of the sequence). Schulte is 40-of-44 (90.9%) from the free-throw line on the season, which is fourth nationally.
- > Grace Foster and Juliana Robertson have provided LCU strong defensive play inside the perimeter. Robertson ranks sixth in the LSC in rebounds (91) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (5.5). She has 57 rebounds in her past seven games (8.1 per game average). Foster, who had a career-high 20-point performance over Cameron (LCU’s last home game), co-leads LCU in blocks (7), with Robertson also with seven blocks.
- > LCU is fourth nationally in turnovers…or lack thereof, as they average 11.5 per game. The stat has Allie Schulte leading the LSC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.3. As a team, LCU ranks 20th nationally and leading the LSC for team assist/turnover ratio (1.09).
BAD AND RARE
Friday’s loss in Kingsville displayed some bad stat lines for the Lady Chaps, but at the same time displayed some very rare stat lines that are not the norm.
Stat The Last Time
42 points 40 points at Oklahoma City University on Jan. 2, 2010
15-of-51 shooting (29.4%) 28.9% (13/45) at Eastern New Mexico on Dec. 30, 2017
14.3% (4/28) 3pt-FG 1-of-8 on Mar. 18, 2019 at Colorado Mesa
8-of-14 (57.1%) FT%, 55% (11/20) on Feb. 21, 2019 at Newman
17-point loss margin 27 (90-63) at Southwestern Okla. State on Dec. 10, 2016
Opp. FG% (53.7%,22/41) Tarleton State, 58.9% against LCU on Nov. 16, 2013
ROADIES
LCU is 4-1 in road contests this season, with Ashton Duncan leading the squad averaging 12.0 points per game on the road. The Lady Chaps are averaging a point-margin of 10.4 in road contests. They are shooting 41.5% on the road, while holding the home team to 39.3% shooting from the field. LCU has a 56-21 advantage in steals on the road, with Allie Schulte averaging 4.6 per game. Juliana Robertson leads LCU averaging 6.8 rebounds per game on the road.
EYE-OPENING
The 2021-22 season marks LCU’s ninth since leaving the NAIA, and heading into Sunday’s action, LCU is 225-31 in that span (87.9%). In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 20-1 all-time.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
The Lady Chaps claimed the No.1 spot in the WBCA’s National Top-25 Preseason Poll for the first time in program history this year, and also for the first time they were the favorites in both the WBCA and D2SIDA preseason polls. LCU fell to CSU Pueblo in Lakewood, Colo., which ended their 39-game win streak and knocked them out of the No.1 spot. For three consecutive polls, LCU was not in the No.1 spot, but they worked their way back to the top spot in the WBCA poll. In the latest D2SIDA poll, LCU moved back into the No.1 spot, placing them as the current No.1 in each of the national polls recognized by NCAA.com.
With the Lady Chaps serving the current-No.1, and with LCU’s men’s program currently No.1 in the NABC Top-25 Poll, it marks the first time in LCU history in which LCU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs are each ranked No.1 at the same time.
SO ARE SOME OTHERS
On Nov. 20, LCU defeated No.20 Daemen, marking their third game of the season against a nationally ranked program. LCU went 6-0 against nationally ranked programs last season and 4-2 in 2019-20 against the nations ranked foes. This season, LCU is 3-0 against ranked opponents, as they have also defeated No.11 Tampa (Nov. 7 in Billings, Mont.) and No.1 Lander (Nov. 19 in Lubbock).
CONFERENCE OPENERS
This season marks LCU’s third season in the Lone Star Conference. Friday’s loss marked LCU’s conference opener and the game was their 28th conference opener (six Heartland Conference and 19 Sooner Athletic Conference openers prior to joining the LSC). The Lady Chaps, now 2-1 in LSC openers, went 11-8 all-time in SAC openers and 5-1 in HC openers, with a loss at St. Mary’s (Dec. 31, 2016) marking their only loss in a Heartland Conference opener. They are 16-2 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez. They have won 15 of their prior 16 consecutive conference openers.
STARS IN THE CONFERENCE
LCU is 32-4 all-time in Lone Star Conference play and they had a 22-game win streak snapped Friday. The Lady Chaps went 13-0 in LSC play last season and their previous conference loss (before Friday) was Jan. 30, 2020 at Texas A&M-Commerce.
CLOSING THE CALENDAR
The 2021 calendar year was a good one for the Lady Chaps (pushing COVID-19 matters aside…again). In 2021, LCU claimed their second LSC Championship title and third NCAA Division II national title. Saturday’s loss was only the second loss on the 2021 calendar year for LCU. They conclude 2021 with a 32-2 record (94.1%). LCU had a 19-3 (86.7%) record for all games played in 2020 19-3 (86.4%), and they went 22-1 (95.7%) in 2020, 29-5 (85.3%) in 2019, 26-5 (83.9%) in 2017, 29-10 (74.4%) in 2016 and 24-4 (85.7%) in 2015. LCU drops to 5-3 all-time on New Year’s Eve. Their previous New Year’s Eve game was on Dec. 31, 2018, as LCU topped Eastern New Mexico 64-48 at home. LCU is 4-3 all-time in New Year’s Eve games played under head coach Steve Gomez and 2-2 all-time in conference games played on New Year’s Eve.
SUNDAY, SUNDAY
Sunday’s LCU contest in Laredo will mark LCU’s second Sunday contest of the season and their third regular season game on a Sunday since leaving the NAIA in 2012-13. On Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, LCU defeated UT Tyler on the road won 69-48, and earlier this season (Nov. 7), LCU defeated No.11 Tampa 56-44 in Billings, Mont.
FIVE THINGS ABOUT TAMIU
1 > The Dustdevils enter 2022 10-1 on the season. Their lone loss of the season was Dec. 8 in Saint Leo, Fla. against Saint Leo, and they have answered with three consecutive wins, as they open the weekend Dec. 31 against Eastern New Mexico. The Dustdevils are 7-0 at home this season.
2 > TAMIU, who entered the season No.6 in the LSC Preseason Poll, have LCU as their third opponent of the week, They opened the week in Dallas, Texas Wednesday defeating Texas A&M-Texarkana 90-59 behind 27 points from Rai Brown. They followed with 18 points from Clara Fernadez in a 71-43 win Friday over Eastern New Mexico to place them with a 1-0 LSC record.
3 > Ball distribution has played a key to TAMIU’s success, as they lead the LSC with 19.7 assists per game. Their season-high mark is 28, which occurred Nov. 13 vs. Chadron State.
4 > Texas A&M International University senior wing Eva Langton is the reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week. She posted eight steals in a pair of road wins (vs. St. Edward’s and St. Mary’s), with six posted at SEU.
5 > TAMIU ranks third nationally in field goal shooting, posting a team mark of 48.7% from the field. They have shot over 50% five times this season.
THE SERIES AGAINST TAMIU
LCU leads the all-times series 18-1 against TAMIU. The Lady Chaps won the first five and the prior 13 series meetings. LCU swept the regular season series in Lubbock last season, defeating the Dustdevils 71-61 (Jan. 22, 2021) and 85-42 (Jan. 23, 2021). LCU is 6-1 all-time against TAMIU in Laredo, where LCU has not played since an 89-39 win on Jan. 10, 2019. The Lady Chaps went 12-1 against TAMIU while the two were Heartland Conference members.
ACTIVE LADY CHAP LEADERS VS. TAMIU
Here is a look at LCU’s top three active leaders career vs. TAMIU:
Allie Schulte 9gp – 10.6 pts/g, 22 steals (2.4 p/g), 14/27 3-pt fg (51.9%)
Laynee Burr 6gp – 7.7 pts/g, 13/26 fg (3/7 3-pt fg)
Ashton Duncan 9gp – 5.8 pts/g, 14/35 3-pt fg (40%)
PRIOR MEETING VS. TAMIU
Jan. 23, 2021 – Lubbock, Texas: No.2 Lubbock Christian University forced Texas A&M International into 29 turnovers and had 40 points-off-turnovers to cruise to an 85-42 Lone Star Conference victory inside Rip Griffin Center.
LCU, forcing TAMIU into 23 turnovers Friday, forced the Dustdevils into 29 turnovers Saturday, marking the most LCU has forced since they forced Northern New Mexico into 32 on Nov. 5, 2010. The Lady Chaps took advantage of the 29 miscues, converting them into a 40-6 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers. Ironically, the last time LCU scored 40 points in points-off-turnovers was against TAMIU on Mar. 7, 2019 at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla.
The start of the game showed sings that LCU would be the team struggling with turnovers, after a pair of turnovers on their first two possessions. They had a third turnover nearly three minutes into the game, but LCU would follow the remaining 17 minutes of the half with two turnovers.
The Lady Chaps first four points of the game were from the free-throw line. The offense started to roll once Emma Middleton was fouled for an and-one, which started a 16-0 run, which was also part of a 22-3 LCU run to set up a 26-11 lead after the first quarter. Ashton Duncan connected on a pair of three-pointers during the 16-0 portion of the run, as LCU was 7-of-10 from the field in the quarter (70%) and 4-of-5 (80%) from three-point range.
LCU was 11-of-15 from the field (73.3%) before they missed consecutive shot attempts (6:15 remaining in the second quarter). The Dustdevils were outscored 24-10 in the second quarter and LCU had runs of 11-0 and 13-1 in the quarter before a 50-21 lead. LCU was 14-of-25 (56%) from the field in the half and 6-of-10 from long range.
TAMIU was held to one two-point field goal the entire first half, as five of their six field goals of the half (6-of-20 shooting, 30%) were three-pointers (they were 1-of-11 from inside the arc in the half). Their scoring resources changed in the second half, as TAMIU had six field goals in the second half and all were inside the perimeter (they were 0-of-4 from three-point range in the half).
Friday, TAMIU shot 78.9% from the field in the second half. LCU made sure lightning did not strike twice. A 7-0 run in the third quarter gave LCU a 62-29 lead with 3:44 left in the quarter. The lead never went below a 31-point margin the rest of the way. LCU, surrendering 27 points to the Dustdevils in the fourth quarter Friday, held TAMIU to five points in Saturday’s fourth quarter. TAMIU was held without a field goal over the final 5:38 of the game, while LCU ended the game on a 11-1 run.
Maci Maddox scored seven points in the fourth quarter (all her scoring in the game) and was one of 10 Lady Chaps to figure into the scoring of the second half. No member of the Lady Chaps played more than eight minutes in the second half and no player played less than five minutes (14 players played).
Allie Schulte led a foursome of Lady Chaps in double figures. She had a balanced effort with 14 points (5-of-7 shooting), six assists, four rebounds, four steals and a +26 plus/minus. Ashton Duncan and Emma Middleton each had 12 points. Duncan, making her first three three-point attempts, finished 4-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range. Middleton, 3-of-3 from the field, had seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals with a +30 plus/minus rating. Juliana Robertson was also +30 with 11 points (4-of-5 shooting) with two steals and two assists.
LCU was 53.2% (25/47) from the field, going 8-of-16 (50%) from three-point range. They also went 93.1% (27/29) from the free-throw line. Defensively, along with the myriad of forced turnovers, LCU had 15 steals (second highest total of the season).
TAMIU was led by Clara Fernandez, who had 12 points off a 4-of-6 shooting performance.