Heartland Conference

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the second time in four seasons Lubbock Christian stands alone at the top of the DII women’s basketball world as they defeated second-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State in one of the most riveting championship games in Division II history. The Lady Chaps rallied past SWOSU 95-85 in double-overtime marking the first double OT game in DII championship history, and just the fourth championship game to reach overtime.
 
Senior Olivia Robertson, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player, and junior Maddi Chitsey were pivotal for the Lady Chaps who survived a true game of runs that saw them down by 10 points in the third quarter. Robertson scored 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting while Chitsey dropped 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the win. All five starters for Lubbock Christian finished the game in double figures.  

Chitsey's three-point shot with 3.2 seconds left in overtime pulled the Lady Chaps back from the brink of defeat before they went on to outscore the Lady Bulldogs 20-10 in the second overtime. In the second extra period, Robertson led LCU to a 9-0 run that put Lubbock Christian in quick control of the decisive period. SWOSU tried to extend the game with 1:36 remaining putting the Lady Chaps at the charity stripe 12 times to close the game. LCU made 10-of-12 from the line over that span and sophomore Allie Schulte went 6-6. 
 
The title is the fifth national championship by a member of the Heartland Conference and the second in the sport of women’s basketball. With the win, Lubbock Christian becomes the second institution in the conference’s 20-year history to claim multiple championships joining St. Mary’s who won titles in softball and baseball in back-to-back seasons.