WICHITA FALLS (December 13, 2014) – Tess Bruffey set the Lubbock Christian University single-game blocks record with 10 denials, Haley Fowler produced a career high 24 points and Haley Burton notched her second career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), but the performances were not good enough to keep the NCAA Div. II's longest active road winning streak alive. No.24 Midwestern State used 22 offensive rebounds and an 87% (20/23) free-throw percentage to hold on for a 73-70 win over LCU Saturday night at Ligon Coliseum, ending LCU's 17-game road win streak.

Losing in Wichita Falls was a trend the Lady Chaps were trying to buck. LCU, now 0-14 all-time against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, was playing their 27th all-time meeting against MSU, but their first since Feb. 12, 1994. Back then, the two teams were NAIA regional foes and the Mustangs were still known as the Indians.

LCU had to rally back Saturday night for the opportunity to end that Wichita Falls skid and to attempt to keep MSU from garnering their 11th straight win in the all-time series. Midwestern State had their largest lead at 63-53 with 9:29 remaining in the contest. LCU went on an 11-4 run over the next five minutes to pull within 67-64. They were 5-of-5 from the field during the stretch, with Fowler producing two of the field goals. They could have produced a better run, but they committed six turnovers during the span. Mean-while, MSU closed the game making three of their last 10 field goal attempts and going without a field goal over the final 2:03. The made field goal, by Dianna Jones, provided MSU a 71-67 lead. Fowler split a trip to the free-throw line and Bailey Haist had a baseline lay-up to cut the deficit to 71-70 with 15 sec-onds to go. They fouled Jones with nine seconds left and she made both free-throws to extend the MSU lead to 73-70. LCU had an opportunity to produce a three-point shot to force overtime but they never got a three-point shot off.

The Lady Chaps trailed 38-32 at halftime after MSU closed the half outscoring LCU 16-7 over the final seven minutes, including a 9-2 run over the half's final three minutes. There were four lead changes in the first half, with LCU never leading by more than three points.

In the paint, LCU outscored MSU 48-28 and had 15 blocks. The 15 blocks is the highest block total for LCU under head coach Steve Gomez's coaching reign at LCU (in his 12th season) and it was two blocks off the program's single game record of 17 from Feb. 19, 1991 (vs. Hardin-Simmons). The 15 blocks sets a new Heartland Conference record (prior high was 14). Bruffey not only topped her prior and school single-game record of nine, but also broke the Heartland Conference single-game record. The mark matches the most produced in NCAA Div.II this season (two other players have completed the task na-tionally).  

Bruffey missed out on an impactful stat line, as she had eight points and eight rebounds to go along with her 10 blocks. Burton was an assist shy of a career high with 10 assists in recording her first double-double of the season. Fowler went 11-of-14 from the field and had six boards and four assists in her career scoring night (prior career high was 19).

MSU, improving to 8-1 on the season and matching their best nine-game start in program history, regis-tered 22 offensive rebounds, leading to a 19-3 scoring edge in second chance scoring. Andrea Carter produced a double-double for MSU with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jones led MSU in scoring with 24 points. The Mustangs excelled at the charity stripe, going 20-of-23 from the line (87%). It was the best shooting performance from the line by an LCU opponent shooting at least 20 attempts since Southern Nazarene was 91.9% (34/37) on Mar. 4, 2011.

The Lady Chaps were 49.1% (27-55) from the field in the game and held MSU to 36.9% (24/65) from the field. LCU was 2-of-6 (33.3%) from three-point range. The two three-point field goals were the least since Nov. 5, 2011 (vs. Metro State), and the six attempts is the fewest attempted under Gomez's coaching tenure.

LCU is 6-3 on the season with the loss. The loss was their first road loss since Nov. 16, 2013 at Tarleton State (this season's opening loss was a neutral site game). Their next game will be their Heartland Con-ference opener. They open at home against Texas A&M International Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox 34 News Now, which can be found over-air (digital) on 34.2 or on Suddenlink 109.