By james art 
CANYON, Texas (Nov. 3, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University wraps up its first weekend of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic with a key regional game, taking on Black Hills State University at 11 a.m. at First United Bank Center.
| D2CCA TIPOFF CLASSIC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | VIDEO | RADIO | STATISTICS |
| Black Hills St. | Canyon, Texas | Sun., Nov. 3 | 11 in the morning | Look | listen | statistics |
LCU PERFORMANCE
- To Grace Foster A dominant start
LCU is 1-0 after a 64-41 win over Kutztown Saturday and LCU’s Grace Foster set the tone early, scoring 18 of his 21 points in the first half, which included sparking a 14-0 run to open the game/season. Her free throw accuracy (11 of 11 in the first half) was also instrumental, providing a strong foundation for LCU’s lead. She was 4 of 8 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line. The 12 free throws made were one shy of a career high, and the 13 attempted matched a career high (her third career game with 13 free throws). The 12 free throws tied for fifth-most in a game by a Lady Chaps member since leaving the NAIA (2012-13) and the 13 attempts tied for eighth-most in the same time frame.
- Lock down defense and rebound
The Lady Chaps held Kutztown to just 32.7 percent shooting and outrebounded them 38-28. Audrey Spurgin and Kennedy Chapel led the effort on the boards, with nine rebounds apiece, posting a key margin of +10 rebounds. The +10 rebounding margin is their largest since posting a +16 (46-30) margin on February 11, 2023 against Eastern New Mexico.
- The 3-point shooting shines
LCU took advantage of the three-point shooting, hitting eight treys during the game. That outside scoring helped LCU control the tempo and maintain their lead, mirroring a similar strategy used in several of their games last season. LCU made at least eight 3-pointers in eight games last season
- Contributions across the lineup
With 11 players participating on the floor, the depth of the Lady Chaps was clear. The underdogs scored 12 of the team’s 18 points in the final quarter, showcasing LCU’s strong bench and ability to sustain momentum.
- Early season success under coach Gomez
That win Saturday marked LCU’s first season-opening win since 2021, improving their season-opening record to 30-16 overall and 14-8 under the head coach Steve Gomezsetting a positive tone for the 2024-25 season.
FIVE THINGS ABOUT BHSU
1 > The Black Hills State University women’s basketball team is entering a new era with Rachel Erickson, a former BHSU player and recent Colorado State assistant, as head coach. Voted ninth in the RMAC preseason poll, BHSU returns a core of experienced players, including leading scorer Cala Bertram and key contributors Morgan Hammerbeck, Gracie Hanneborg and Haley Weathersby. Along with that core, BHSU has a new wave of talent, including Division I transfer Taylor Ray (Colorado State) and freshman standouts like Wyoming’s Brady Schlabs and South Dakota’s Sawyer Steubner, who bring defensive strength and playmaking skills as they go. in their 2024-25 season.
2 > The Yellow Jackets finished the 2023-24 season with a solid 17-10 overall record and a 14-8 RMAC conference record, landing in sixth place in the standings. They had a balanced performance, winning both at home (9-5) and away (8-5). Notably, the team showed resilience with back-to-back wins to close out the regular season. However, their playoff streak was cut short with a loss in the first round of the RMAC Tournament to Adams State, 83-63. Major highlights of the season included wins over competitive teams like Colorado Mesa and Colorado School of Mines, although they struggled against top-tier teams in the RMAC standings.
3 > The Rachel Erickson era at Black Hills State began with a thrilling 57-55 win over West Texas A&M, capped by Kala Bertram’s incredible field goal. Despite the slow start, the Yellow Jackets led for nearly 30 minutes and held the Lady Buffs scoreless in the final 2:30 to secure the win. Haley Weathersby led the way with 18 points, while Bertram contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds. The win marked BHSU’s third straight to open the season.
4 > Mark Nore, who coached BHSU for 22 seasons, stepped down at the end of last season as he was named director of athletics at BHSU. Nore became the program’s all-time wins leader with a record of 390-239 over 22 years. His tenure saw the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, multiple conference titles and seven straight RMAC Tournament appearances.
5 > Kalla Bertram returns as Black Hills State’s only all-conference player after earning All-RMAC Second Team honors last season. She averaged 9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the floor. Bertram scored 20 or more points in two games and was a reliable shooter, shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.
THE SERIES AGAINST BHSU
Sunday marks the second ever meeting between Black Hills State and Lubbock Christian, with the Lady Chaparrals leading the series 1-0. LCU picked up a victory in their first meeting on March 11, 2023, winning 66-50 in the second round of the NCAA South Central Regional at Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas. LCU is 2-0 all-time against South Dakota-based programs.
PREVIOUS MEETING AGAINST BHSU
San Angelo, TX (March 11, 2023) – LCU 65 – BHSU 50
The No. 7 seed Labbock Christian University (LCU) Lady Chaparrals secured a decisive 66-50 victory over the No. 6 seed Black Hills State Yellow Jackets in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, clinching their sixth Sweet Sixteen berth . This victory also marked the head coach Steve Gomezmilestone 500th career win accomplished entirely at LCU during his 20-season tenure.
From the start, the Lady Chaps displayed their offensive prowess, never trailing in the game. After a strong start, LCU took a 16-11 lead into the second quarter, where their shooting continued. Sheila Stovall and Audrey Robertson ignited a scoring streak with back-to-back 3-pointers, extending the Lady Chaps’ lead to 22-13 early in the quarter. Grace Foster helped build LCU’s largest lead of the first half at 31-15, contributing seven points in the second quarter alone.
Black Hills State struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 25 percent of its three-point attempts and finishing with a 32.7 percent shooting percentage overall. Despite a late surge, including a 3-pointer by Megan Engeser that cut LCU’s lead to 45-34, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t close the gap. LCU responded with a quick 6-0 run to extend their lead to 18 points, cementing their control of the game.
Foster led the Lady Chaps with 17 points, marking a historic moment as she became the second player in program history to surpass 300 rebounds in a season. Maddox and Stovall each added 13 points, with Stovall scoring 11 of his points in the first half.