Lubbock Christian Women
Experienced Lady Chaps seek three-peat By DAVE WOHLFARTH For a team seeking its third straight national championship, what could be better than having three of its best players, seniors last year, back for another season? That’s the scenario for Coach Steve Gomez as he begins his 19th season at LCU. Yes, his Lady Chaps will seek a three-peat as Division II champs. They won in 2019. They had a good shot at repeating in 2020, but the season was canceled the day before they entered the regional tournament. So, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no national tourney. Last spring the Lady Chaps captured the national title, completing a 23-0 season. That was their second undefeated national championship campaign, LCU having gone 35-0 in 2016. They’re the only NCAA Division II team to have two unbeaten seasons. Five seniors led the Lady Chaps last year. They were: • Allie Schulte, a 5-10 guard from Nazareth, led the Lady Chaps in scoring (15 points per game), assists (3.5 apg) and 3-point shooting percentage (.484). She also grabbed 4 rebounds per game. Schulte was a first-team All-America selection by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and second-team All-America by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. She was named the most outstanding player in the national tournament and on the all-tournament team. She was on the Lone Star’s all-conference first team and on the LSC’s all-defensive team. • Ashton Duncan, a 5-9 guard from Lubbock Trinity Christian, led the team in 3-pointers made (67), shooting.424 from long range, and averaged 11.7 ppg. Duncan, daughter of LCU men’s coach Todd Duncan, was a second-team all-LSC selection. • Emma Middleton, a 6-1 forward from the home-schooled Lubbock Titans, was second in scoring (13.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) for the Lady Chaps. She was a D2CCA third-team Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps Roster Name, Ht., Pos., Class, Hometown Grace Foster, 6-1, F, Fr., Childress, Texas Ashton Duncan, 5-9, G, Gr., Lubbock, Texas Maci Maddox, 5-7, G, Soph., Frenship, Texas Audrey Robertson, 5-8, G, Soph., Kerrville, Texas Rachel Haase, 5-8, G, Fr., Amarillo, Texas Laynee Burr, 5-9, G, Sr., Stratford, Texas Savannah Sumrall, 5-9, G, Jr., Wellington, Texas Channing Cunyus, 5-9, G, Sr., Canyon, Texas Shaylee Stovall, 5-6, G, Soph., Idalou, Texas Carli Bostwick, 5-9, F/G, Fr., Lubbock, Texas Allie Shulte, 5-10, G, Gr., Nazareth, Texas Juliana Robertson, 5-10, F, Gr., Kerrville, Texas Brylee Winfrey, 5-9, G, Jr., Canyon, Texas Audrey Spugin, 6-1, P, Fr., Fredericksburg, Texas Whitney Cox, 6-1, F, Jr., Flower Mound, Texas Reese Schumann, 6-2, P, Fr., Clear Lake, Texas Coach: Steve Gomez Asst. Coaches: Vic Self, Kaycie Wilson 2020-2021 record: 23-0, 13-0 76 College
Allie Schulte of Lubbock Christian drives against Central Missouri in the NCAA Division II national semifinals March 24 in Columbus, Ohio. Schulte scored 24 points as the Lady Chaps won 63-61 and went on to defeat Drury 69-59 for the 2021 national title. (Photo by Jay LePrete for LCU Athletics)
All-America selection and an all-LSC second-team pick. She also made the LSC all-defensive team and the Elite Eight alltournament team. • Juliana Robertson, a 5-10 forward from Kerrville, topped the Lady Chaps in rebounding at 5.8 rpg and scored 7.4 ppg. She was third on the team in assists at 2.3 apg. Robertson made the all-LSC third team. • Madelyn Turner, a 5-8 guard from Abernathy, averaged 6.2 ppg and was second in assists at 2.5 apg. She was honorable mention all-conference. The NCAA decided to grant seniors the option of an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID complications last season. Schulte, Ashton Duncan and Robertson, all enrolled in LCU’s graduate school, decided to take advantage of the offer. “These kids get a chance to play again, so they need to make the most of it,” Gomez said. “It’s a rare opportunity.” The trio’s return is LCU’s strength. “Yes, that definitely is,” Gomez said, “because it’s not like putting us at ease, but we know what those kids have been through – two national championships. They’ve been through some stupid losses, some good wins, and so we’ve just got to trust them.” The other two seniors chose different destinations. Middleton transferred to Division I Abilene Christian, where she is playing. Turner is a graduate speech therapy student at Texas Tech. Channing Cunyus, a 5-9 guard from Canyon, and Laynee (Continued on next page) 2021-2022 Panhandle-Plains Basketball
