Lubbock Christian Women’s Basketball: A Team on the Rise
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The Lubbock Christian University women’s basketball team is one to watch out for in the coming years. With a strong core of young players the team is poised to make a run at the conference title
1.Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a private university in Lubbock, Texas. The school is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It was founded in 1957 by Claude and Mae Oliphint and currently has an enrollment of over 2,000 students. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Lady Chaparrals.
The women’s Basketball team at Lubbock Christian University has seen a lot of success in recent years The team has won three conference championships in the past four years and has made two appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament. The Lady Chaparrals are led by Head Coach Steve Gomez, who has been at the helm of the program for the past eight years.
Lubbock Christian University is a private university located in Lubbock, Texas and affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The school was founded in 1957 by Claude and Mae Oliphint and current has an enrollment of over 2,000 students. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Lady Chaparrals and the women’s basketball team has seen a lot of success in recent years winning three conference championships in the past four years and making two appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament. The Lady Chaparrals are led by head coach Steve Gomez, who has been with the program for eight years.
2.Women’s Basketball
In recent years the Lubbock Christian University women’s Basketball team has been on the rise. The team has seen an increase in wins and a higher level of play. This is due in part to the talented group of players that have been recruited to play for the team.
The team is coached by Katie Burckhard, who is in her fourth year as Head Coach Coach Burckhard has done an excellent job of recruiting talented players to come to LCU. The team has a mix of experienced veterans and young up-and-comers.
The Lady Chaps are led by senior guard Gabby Green. Green is a four-year starter and two-time All-American. She is the All-time leading scorer in LCU history and is one of the best players in the country. Green is joined by fellow seniors Hannah Holt and Alex Williams. Holt is a three-year starter and was named Honorable Mention All-American last season. Williams is a two-year starter and was named to the All-Southland Conference 2nd Team last year.
The Lady Chaps also have a talented group of young players who are beginning to make an impact on the court. Freshman guard Whitney Forrest was named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and was also named to the All-Southland Conference 1st Team last year. Sophomore forward Lexie Ducat was also named Honorable Mention All-American last season.
The Lady Chaps have high expectations for this season. They are currently ranked #12 in the nation and are expected to compete for a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament
3.The Team
As the Lady Chaparrals, the Lubbock Christian University women’s basketball team has been on the rise in recent years. Under the leadership of Head coach Steve Gomez, the team has made it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division 1 National Tournament three times in the past four years. This year, they are hoping to make it back to the tournament and make a run at the title.
The team is led by two senior starters, center Brenna Moore and guard Keilee Burke. Moore is a 6’2” force in the post, averaging 11 points and eight rebounds per game Burke is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game The rest of the starting lineup consists of junior guard Abby Spurgin and sophomore forwards Lexi Petty and Hayley Chapman.
The Lady Chaps have a deep bench and are able to go 10 or 11 players deep into games without much drop-off in performance. This has been a key to their success in recent years as they have worn down opponents with their constant pressing and fast-paced play.
With a mix of experienced veterans and talented young players the Lubbock Christian women’s basketball team is a force to be reckoned with. They have proven that they can compete with anyone in the nation and they will be looking to make some noise in this year’s tournament.
4.The Fans
Lubbock Christian University Women’s basketball team has some of the most dedicated and rowdy fans in all of NCAA Division II basketball. The team’s home games are always packed with cheering students, alumni, and community members waving LCU flags and banners. The fans are so loyal that they even travel to away games to support their team.
This season, the LCU women’s basketball team is ranked #3 in the nation and is poised to make a run at the National Championship The team has already set a program record for most wins in a season and they are only getting better. With such a talented and hardworking team, it is no wonder that they have such an incredible fan base.
5.The Coaches
In just his second year as head coach Matt Pipkin has taken the team to new heights. He was named Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2018 after leading the team to a 20-11 record and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament His wife, Audra, is an Assistant Coach on the team.
The team’s success is due in large part to the hard work of its coaches. They have instilled a strong work ethic in their players and have instilled a sense of pride in being a part of the Lubbock Christian program.
The future is bright for Lubbock Christian Women’s Basketball. With a young, talented team and a Coaching Staff that is committed to success, the sky is the limit for this program.
6.The Conference
Lubbock Christian University’s women’s Basketball team has seen a lot of success in recent years. Despite being a relatively small school, LCU has won four conference championships in the last six years. The team is currently ranked No. 22 in the nation and is poised to make a run at the conference title again this year.
LCU competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference which is made up of 12 schools from Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. The conference is split into two divisions, with LCU being in the West Division along with Oklahoma City University, Rogers State University and Southwestern Christian University.
The conference tournament is held at the end of each season and is a single-elimination event. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament
7.The Schedule
The women’s basketball team’s non-Conference Schedule this season is highlighted by games against three of the nation’s top 25 teams. The team will also play in four tournaments, highlighted by the Puerto Rico Classic in November.
LCU opens the season at home on Nov. 5 against Wayland Baptist before hitting the road for four straight games. The first two will be a part of the GCAC/SIAC Crossover Tournament, with the Lady Chaps facing Dillard on Nov. 10 and Xavier on Nov. 11.
8.The Rivalry
It’s no secret that there is a big rivalry between Lubbock Christian University and Wayland Baptist University The two schools are only about 15 minutes apart and have been competing against each other in athletics for years. The rivalry is especially intense in women’s basketball.
LCU and WBU have been the two best teams in the Sooner athletic conference for the past few years. They have met in the conference tournament Championship game three times in the last four years, with LCU winning two of those meetings.
The Lady Chaparrals are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, while the Lady Pioneers are right behind them at No. 5. The two teams are once again
competing for the Conference Championship and will likely meet again in the Conference Tournament
There is no love lost between these two rivals, and the games are always highly contested. If you’re looking for a good basketball game to watch, make sure to check out when LCU and WBU re Playing each other.
9.The Tournament
The Lubbock Christian University women’s Basketball Team is having a historic season. They have a 27-4 record and have only lost one conference game. They are ranked number five in the nation in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll This is the first time in program history that they have been ranked in the top 25.
The team has been led by senior guard Katie Cook who was recently named the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She is averaging 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game Graduate guard Emily Williams has also been a key player for the Lady Chaparrals. She is averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game
Lubbock Christian will be the number one seed in the upcoming Sooner Athletic Conference tournament They will have a bye in the first round and will play their first game on March 7th at noon CT. The tournament will be held at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
10.The Future
The future looks bright for LCU women’s basketball. Coach Jeff Cordell has assembled a young, talented team that should be competitive for years to come. The Lady Chaps have made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament and are coming off a season in which they won 28 games and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen
This year’s team will be led by junior guard Sydnie Wheeler, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Southland conference tournament last season. Wheeler is joined by fellow juniorAsia Woodard, who was named First Team All-Southland Conference after averaging 16.1 points per game last season. Sophomore Jordan Edison is also back after an impressive freshman campaign in which she averaged 10.4 points per game
With a core of young talent in place, the Lady Chaps are poised for continued success in the years to come. Coach Cordell and his staff will no doubt have this team ready to compete at a high level once again in 2019-20.