Spring Break
Conference Home Openers for LCU Squads
Lady Chaps, Chaps Host Oklahoma Christian
Chris Due
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Lubbock Christian University opens their home portion of Sooner Athletic Conference play tonight, as the LCU basketball programs host Oklahoma Christian with the women tipping off at 6 p.m. and the men will follow at 8 p.m.
MEN'S GAME PREVIEW
Twelve games in the books, including five conference games, but tonight represents only the second home game of the season and the first Sooner Athletic Conference home game for LCU, as the Chaps host the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles at the Rip Griffin Center. The Chaps are tied for ninth in the SAC standings with a 1-4 conference record, but a victory over OC would place the two programs in a tie for the eighth spot with a 2-4 record. LCU would like to benefit from playing at home and garner a win to remain perfect on the home hardwood. Both teams come in following losses. LCU fell to Rogers St. 84-60, while OC fell to Oklahoma Baptist 71-60. OC does come in winners of their last two road games.
History Lesson: Today's game marks the 44th all-time meeting between the two programs. The teams have split the two-game season series the past two seasons and the team's victories last season each came on the road in the series.
Focusing In on LCU - OC: LCU's Tommy Lane combined for 15-of-31 shooting on the week last week and posted 44 points for the combined two road games. He ranks 48th in the NAIA with a 51.5 percentage from the field. The Chaps defense is holding teams to an average of 64.5 points per game, which ranks fifth in the SAC and 14th in the NAIA. OC's Jason Taylor leads the SAC in scoring with an average of 19 points per game (20th in the NAIA) and is third in rebounds per game with an average of 8.2 per game. He has scored no less than 12 points in SAC competition this season. The Eagles allow an average of 63.6 points per game, which is third best in the SAC and tenth best in the NAIA.
Next: LCU remains home Saturday for their first span of two consecutive home games this season, as they host Northwestern Oklahoma State University with an estimated 3 p.m. tip.
WOMEN'S GAME PREVIEW
The LCU Lady Chaps seek to extend their season-high six-game win streak tonight, hosting the Oklahoma Christian Lady Eagles.
If the the Lady Chaps can complete the task, a seven-game winning streak would be their largest since streaking to seven consecutive wins last season. Tonight is the Lady Chaps first conference home game after opening conference play with five consecutive road games. Guard Sierra Wilcox-Lovorn enters tonight's game with 266 career assists, which is nine shy of setting the school record for career assists held by Tabitha Qubty-Sellers (374 from 2000 - 2004). LCU ranks #11 in the NAIA Top 25 ratings that were released Wednesday and it is the highest the Lady Chaps have been rated this season since the opening ratings that rated LCU #10. They also rank tied for third in the SAC with a 4-1 conference mark and sit behind Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptist, who are each 5-0 in conference play this season.
OC comes in with a 7-5 record and 3-2 in the SAC, and they come in following their most lopsided loss in school history. The Lady Eagles suffered a 55-point setback Saturday with a 96-41 home loss to rival Oklahoma Baptist.
History Lesson: Today's game marks the 32nd all-time meeting between the two programs. The Lady Eagles have mostly dominated the series with just four losses to the Lady Chaps. LCU is just 1-8 under head coach Steve Gomez against the Lady Eagles, with the lone win coming in their previous battle.
Focusing In on LCU - OC: LCU leads the NAIA in free throw percentage (78.4 percent), ranks sixth in defensive rebounds per game (28.9) and seventh in field goal defense (36.1 percent). Last week, the Lady Chaps defense held their combined two opponents (John Brown and Rogers St.) to just 30 field goals on 115 attempts for a 26.1 percent shooting percentage. LCU guard Jordan Hampton leads the SAC with an average of 15 points per game. She comes off a 19-point performance in which all 19 points came in the second half against RSU. Sierra Wilcox-Lovorn leads the SAC in assists (83) and her 6.4 assists per game ranks fourth in the NAIA. LCU hit 10-of-12 three-point field goals in the second half of their win at RSU. OC is solid from the free throw line as well. As a team, they rank 13th in the NAIA (72.7 percent) and Lindsey Gipson ranks seventh with a 86.9 percentage. In their loss to OBU, OC witnessed each of the OBU participants tally points and five different individuals produced double-digits in scoring. The Lady Eagles were just 13-for-50 (26 percent) from the field.
Next: LCU remains home Saturday for their first span of two consecutive home games this season, as they host Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a 1 p.m. tip.
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