LSC Women's Basketball Championship Central

Lubbock Christian may be in its first season as a Lone Star Conference member, but winning titles is nothing new to them.

            And after Sunday, you can call them LSC Champions as the Lady Chaps cut down the nets in Comerica Center after beating top-seed Texas A&M-Commerce, 57-44 in the finals of the LSC Championship.

            LCU jumped out to an early lead and then withstood every rally the Lions could give, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Lady Chaps, who improved to 28-3 with the win. The victory also likely secures the No. 1 seed in next week’s regional tournament, which would be in Lubbock.

            The Lions, who started the season with 26 straight wins, fall to 28-3 and will be one of the top three seeds in next week’s regional.

            On Sunday, the Chaps got an all-around performance from their best player, Maddi Chitsey. The LSC’s Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Academic Player of the Year, Chitsey had her best game of the tournament, posting a game-high 17 points, along with 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks. In the first two games, foul trouble had plagued her, limiting Chitsey to just a combined 12 points.

            But the tournament MVP went to LCU guard Caitlyn Cunyus, who was consistent throughout the weekend, doing whatever the Lady Chaps needed. On Sunday, she had six points, four rebounds and three assists.

            Joining Cunyus on the all-tournament team was Chitsey and LCU’s Allie Schulte, who had 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Ashton Duncan had 12 points off four 3-pointers.

            The Lady Chaps led by as much as 18 points in the first half, thanks to a 15-0 run early in the second quarter. Leading 34-20 at halftime, LCU saw Commerce score the first eight points and eventually cut the lead down to five. With Cunyus battling foul trouble in this game, LCU leaned on Chitsey and Schulte, who came up with key rebounds in the third and fourth quarter to keep the Lions at bay.

            A&M-Commerce was led by Alexis Bryant, who was named to the all-tournament team. Bryant had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Chania Wright scored 10 points for the Lions.

            In the first and only other meeting between these two teams this year, A&M-Commerce won at home, 59-54. 

2020 All-Tournament Team:
Caitlyn Cunyas, Lubbock Christian (MVP)
Maddie Chitsey, Lubbock Christian
Allie Schulte, Lubbock Christian
Alexis Bryant, A&M-Commerce
Zamorye Cox, Eastern New Mexico

LCU Notes:

• In their first season in the LSC, the Lady Chaps became the 12th program to win the LSC Championship title.
• This is LCU’s third consecutive conference tournament title.
• LCU, the defending national champions, will play in the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship for the fourth time in five years as DII members after claiming the league’s automatic qualification.  The Lady Chaps also win the 2016 DII championship.
• The Lady Chaps improved to 14-0 when holding opponents under 50 points.
• Maddi Chitsey became the first player in LSC history to win the Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Academic Player of the Year in the same season. Chitsey surpassed 1,000 career points this season, and now has 1,336 points.
• Chitsey’s 11 rebounds is her fourth double-digit game on the boards. She now has three double-doubles this season.
• Chitsey had a season-high four steals against the Lions.
• Ashton Duncan’s four 3-pointers is the most in a game since she drilled five against West Texas A&M on Feb. 6.

 
A&M-C Notes:  

• After tying the tournament single-game record with 60 rebounds on Saturday, the Lions had just 46, but still outrebounded LCU by seven.
• A&M-Commerce tied the school record with 28 wins this season.
• The Lions were denied their first LSC Championship final since the 2007 season when they cut down the nets in Commerce.
• In holding the Lady Chaps to 57, Lions are 22-2 this season when holding their opponents to 60 points or less.
• The Lions have outscored their opponents by 203 points in the first quarter this season but were down 14-9 after the first 10 minutes in the title game.  

2020 LSC Women’s Basketball Championship
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 (Women’s opening round on-campus)
11) Midwestern State at 6) Angelo State, ASU 81-70
10) UAFS at 7) St. Edward's, SEU 78-59
9) Cameron at 8) St. Mary's, StMU 84-71
12) Oklahoma Christian at 5) Eastern New Mexico, ENMU 70-52
 
Thursday, March 5, 2020 (Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas)
SESSION ONE
Game 1: Noon, Women 3) Lubbock Christian vs. 6) Angelo State, LCU 91-65
Game 2: 2:30 p.m., Women 2) West Texas A&M vs. 7) St. Edward's, WT 70-46
 
SESSION TWO
Game 3: 6:00 p.m., Women 1) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. 8) St. Mary's, A&M-C 70-60
Game 4: 8:30 p.m., Women 4) Tarleton vs. 5) Eastern New Mexico, ENMU 66-62
 
Saturday, March 7, 2020 (Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas)
SESSION FIVE
Game 9: Noon, 3) Lubbock Christian vs. 2) West Texas A&M, LCU 59-46
Game 10: 2:30 p.m., 1) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. 5) Eastern New Mexico, A&M-C 68-59
 
Sunday, March 8, 2020 (Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas)
SESSION SEVEN
Game 13: 1:00 p.m., Women’s Championship: 3) Lubbock Christian vs. 1) Texas A&M-Commerce, LCU 57-44