LUBBOCK, Texas (November 28, 2014) – History still sits in favor of Tarleton State University. Lubbock Christian University's Tess Bruffey broke the program single-game blocks mark with nine blocks and teammate Allison Szabo produced her first career double-double with career highs in points (16) and rebounds (10), but it was overshadowed by Tarleton's Kathy Thomas, who was 7-of-7 from three-point range and produced 25 points to help the TexAnns break a program single game three-point shooting mark and hold off LCU 73-71 in overtime Friday night at Rip Griffin Center in the opening night of the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic. LCU not only falls to 2-20 all-time against Tarleton, but the loss ended an 18-game win streak at home, which entered the day as the third longest active home win streak in NCAA Div. II. Their last home loss came on Jan. 10, 2013.

The shooting performance by Thomas, who was 2-of-11 from long range on the season entering the game, was one of the most prolific seen by a Lady Chaps opponent. Of opposing individual game-by-game records on file dating back to the 2007-2008 season, no opposing player had ever knocked down seven three-pointers against LCU. The University of Iowa transfer not only scored a career high 25 points but also had seven of the team's 13 three pointers. Meagan O'Dell was 4-of-6 and Lubbock Coronado High School product Bailey Wipff was 2-of-3 to help out the program single-game record. It was the most three-pointers knocked down by a LCU opponent since Southern Nazarene hit 14 three-pointers on Jan. 31, 2008. They were 13-of-21 to go 61.9% from long range, which is the best shooting mark from long range by a Lady Chaps opponent since Metro State went 6-of-9 (66.7%) on Nov. 15, 2009.

Bruffey's mark will not get the honor it deserves. The nine blocks broke LCU's single-game mark of eight, which was matched Saturday (LCU's prior home game) by Kellyn Schneider and originally set by Suzanne Copeland on Feb. 12, 1991. Bruffey, the freshman who also added eight rebounds and seven points, helped LCU produce 10 team blocks. It marks the third consecutive game LCU has produced at least 10 blocks. That had only been completed once prior to the three games over the prior 11 coaching seasons for LCU head coach Steve Gomez.

Focusing on the game itself, it was a thrilling game. Each squad shot over 40% from the field (LCU: 25/61, 41% / TSU: 26/58, 44.8%), neither team had more than a four-point lead after the half and the game included seven lead changes and the score tied on nine occasions.

The game was tied 39-39 at the end of the half and 65-65 at the end of regulation. The game was even tied 71-71 in the final minute, but with less than 25 seconds left, an O'Dell missed three-pointer deflected off a Lady Chaps player and while trying to save the ball from going out of bounds, the ball was directed to the feet of Karli Moore, who was Johnny-on-the-spot for an easy bucket to take the 73-71 lead and leaving LCU with 17 seconds to answer.

The final 17 seconds was a scramble for LCU. After a timeout to design a play, the drawn up play was negated by clutch defense, and a loose ball out of bounds set up another timeout and an inbounds play with less than three seconds remaining. The ball was inbounded to Haley Burton, who attempted a three-point field goal for the win, but the shot was no good off the front of the rim.

The game was LCU's first overtime contest since Jan. 16 of last season at St. Edward's and their first loss in overtime since Dec. 2, 2010 at Mid-America Christian. They fall to 3-2 on the season, while Tarleton, making their first visit to Lubbock since Feb. 17, 1994, improved to 3-1 on the season.

Tarleton's outside shooting was so solid, it trumped some of the statistics that LCU posted. LCU won the turnover department 23-21, leading to a 23-19 advantage in points off turnovers. They also out-rebounded an opponent for the first time this season (38-32), with a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounds leading to a 16-5 scoring advantage in second chance points. Despite several misses inside the paint, LCU still outscored the TexAnns 40-16 in the paint.  The Lady Chaps also had nine more points (17-8) than TSU from the line. All those LCU highlights washed away by Tarleton outscoring LCU 39-12 from beyond the arc. LCU was 4-of-16 (25.0%) from long range. It is the third consecutive game in which LCU's outside shooting percentage was 25% or less. They shot 25% or less from three-point range twice last season and have not had a three-game stretch of its kind since the final three games of the 2008-2009 season. Burton, who is three three-pointers away from cracking into the top five in LCU career history, was 0-of-5 from long range, marking only the second time in her career she was unsuccessful on at least five attempts in a game (Feb. 28, 2013 marked the only prior time in her career).

Haley Fowler and Szabo's performances were also overshadowed. They each had career high performances, as Fowler was 7-of-10 from the field and produced 19 points, while Szabo supplied her first and the program's fourth double-double of the season (in five games). Along with Thomas' career high, TSU received 13 points each from Karli Moore and Ikpeaku Iwobi and 12 points from Meagan O'Dell.

Play at the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic continues Saturday at Rip Griffin Center. Tarleton will face Texas-Permian Basin at 5:30 p.m. and LCU will follow hosting Eastern New Mexico.