EDMOND, Okla. - The Lady Eagles of Oklahoma Christian (6-9, LSC 3-8) will play a tough road stretch over the next two weeks. OC will face three ranked opponents in the next four games as the season reaches the halfway point of conference play. They are searching to get back in the win column, and postseason implications are on the horizon. 

Coach Brown and the Lady Eagles will spend the next two weeks in Lone Star State, matching up this Thursday, Jan. 23rd, with No. 18 Lubbock Christian University (16-3, LSC 10-1) at the Rip Griffin Center at 5:30 p.m., followed by match up with the Mustangs of Midwestern State University (7-10, LSC 5-6) Saturday afternoon, Jan. 25th at 1 p.m. in the D.L. Ligon Coliseum. 

The Eagles Outlook (6-9, LSC 3-8) 

Oklahoma Christian, fighting to end a three-game losing streak, will have a tall task this week. They will face off with the LSC's two leading scorers: Grace Foster with LCU and Zarria Carter with MS. Both average over 19 points for their respective teams. 

While the Lady Eagles are experiencing a slight skid in their season, senior guard Kate Bradley continues to lead the way. The Lady Eagles now rank in the top 10 in multiple categories, including scoring (8th - 13.9), free throw percentage (3rd—86%), three-point percentage (4th—39%), assists (10th—3), and assist-to-turnover ratio (8th - 1.2). Bradley also leads the conference in three-pointers per game (2.9) and minutes on the floor (38.2). 

Bradley is finding support from fellow senior guard Nakia Cullom and true freshman guard Ciara Harris. The two guards average over 10 points, a handful of rebounds, multiple assists, and steals per game, helping facilitate the Lady Eagles' offensive. Harris, showing great promise, including a 20+ point performance against the Hilltoppers, partnered with a scrappy double-double performance from Cullom, gave OC a spark to a second-half comeback run that fell short at the final buzzer. 

Senior Jordan Francisco continues to do the dirty work in the paint, taking on the post-heavy LSC, with almost half the teams in the LSC's leading scores running the forward position. The Lady Eagles have seen increased production in the inside game, coming from Ewa Kielar and Caitlynn Jordan, who have combined for at least eight rebounds a game and get some points on the board. 

The Lady Eagles sit at 12th in the Lone Star Conference, with 11 games remaining. 

Scouting the Chaparrals (16-1, LSC 10-1) 

Longtime head coach Steven Gomez wants to finish his 22nd season with Lubbock Christian strong. The team is atop the LSC standings, tied with No. 2 Texas Women's and No. 14 UT Tyler.

LCU's veteran-heavy roster, which includes one new face for this season, is led by the reigning Offensive Player of the Week, senior forward Grace Foster, and a trio of graduate student guards, Audrey Robertson and Maci Maddox. 

This trio is the key reason for LCU's success this season, and the team finds itself near the top of every statistical category in the LSC. 

The Chaps lead the conference with a stout scoring margin 12.1 over their opponents. They are a team that consistently scores, with little to no difference in their quarter-by-quarter scoring. 

Series History 

The Lady Eagles and the Chaparrals have a long history of meeting, with the first battle returning in 1979. Oklahoma Christian maintained dominance in the series until both teams switched from NAIA to NCAA DII. The Chaps are on a dominant 21-game winning streak, claiming the series lead for the first time in their last matchup on November 30th, 2023. 

The Lady Eagles have not won a game in Lubbock, TX since 2006. 

 Last Match Up 

• Nov. 30th, 2023 - LCU 69 at OC 65 

  • Lubbock Christian jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and held onto a steady lead until the fourth quarter, fighting off the Lady Eagles comeback lead by Audrey Robertson, finishing with 20 points, shooting 8-11 from the field and 2-2 from three. Grace Foster and Maci Maddox put up double-figure scoring and contributed off the boards to help clinch the victory in the Nest over the Lady Eagles. 

  • The Lady Eagles, led by a double-double performance from Brooklin Bain, stormed back in the final 10 minutes of play but fell short of the completed comeback. Ahiyha Melton, Trinity Dobbs, and Kate Bradley combined for 12 points in the comeback effort, and Taylor Jackson gave an outstanding performance off the bench, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds. 

Scouting the Mustangs (7-10, LSC 5-6) 

In their second year under head coach Brenita Jackson, the Mustangs only return two players from last year's roster. The team was picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll. Senior guard Zarria Carter, the conference's leading scorer and rebounder, leads the Mustangs. 

The freshman-heavy roster is turning heads in the conference. With 11 games remaining in the season, they are just one game outside the top eight. Kerbie Cash, who averages 11.2 points, seven rebounds, and a few steals, is highlighted. 

Zarria Carter is having a stellar senior season, averaging a double-double with 19.9 points and 11.8 rebounds a game, seeking to lead the Mustangs to a postseason birth for the first time since 2022.

Series History 

These two programs have a long history of matching up, with the first meeting back in 1979, but they have not seen each other on a consistent yearly basis since 2017 and now meeting as LSC opponents since 2019. 

The Mustangs have won the last four matchups between the two teams, so the series is tied at 10. The winner of this weekend's matchup will take control of the series. 

The Last Matchup 

• Jan. 27th, 2024 - MSU 76 at OC 74 

  • The Mustangs went into the half with a five-point lead over the Lady Eagles thanks to great performances from Makayla Coy, finishing with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Carter dropping over 20 points. With the Lady Eagles out-scoring the Mustangs in the second half, the game came down to a final layup made by Coy to escape the Nest with a victory. 

  • The Lady Eagles stormed back in the fourth quarter behind red-hot Kate Bradley, finishing with a career-high 21 points, going 5-8 from three. Oklahoma Christian would have the final possession and a great look to send it into overtime, but unfortunately watched as the ball hit the back of the rim and bounded into the arms of the defense.