PUEBLO, Colo. (November 14, 2015) – Kelsey Hoppel went 6-of-8 from three-point range to lead all scorers with 22 points and her performance highlighted a milestone night for No.15/23 Lubbock Christian University, as she eclipsed 1,000 career points while leading the Lady Chaparrals to a 72-44 win over Metropolitan State University of Denver Saturday evening to close their stay at the Al-Kaly Shrine Classic hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo.
 
Hoppel entered the game needing 11 points to hit the 1,000-point mark and hit the mark with one of three first-half three-pointers, as she scored all 11 points needed in the opening half. Hoppel also passed Angie Taylor for fourth all-time on LCU's career three-point list. She now has 189 career three-pointers. Haley Burton was the last Lady Chaps member to hit the 1,000-point mark and she completed the task in the 2014-2015 season opener. Nicole Hampton is LCU's only other active 1,000-point player and she hit a few milestones of her own. Hampton surpassed 1,300 career points with her 73^rd career double-figure offensive performance (13 points) and she also recorded five steals for her 230th career steal to move past Tabitha Qubty-Sellers and into third all-time in program history. Haley Fowler completed LCU's trio of players in double figures with 10 points and it helped her eclipse 700 career points.
 
As for the game, LCU used a strong opening quarter to move to 2-0 on the season. Trailing 7-6, LCU responded with an 11-0 run and used seven points in the quarter from Allison Szabo to help LCU close the quarter on a 19-2 scoring advantage for a 25-9 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
 

LCU's flow in the remaining three quarters would not be the same, but they had their own consistency.  The Lady Chaps did not score a point in the second quarter until 4:13 remained in the half, they went the opening 3:12 of the third quarter without a field goal and then followed in the fourth quarter without a point for the opening 3:07.
 
Jumping back to the second quarter, early fouls on starters Tess Bruffey and Kellyn Schneider sent their interior to the bench and Metro State took advantage of the opportunity. A 10-0 Roadrunners run cut LCU's lead to 25-19, but LCU bounced back with a 12-7 scoring advantage over the final 4:13 of the half for a 37-26 halftime lead.
 
The Lady Chaps quick surge of offense in the second quarter duplicated itself in the third quarter. Bruffey's three-pointer to end the field-goal drought to open the third quarter jumpstarted a 20-5 scoring surge and helped LCU head into the final quarter with a 60-36 lead. Hoppel connected on three three-pointers and produced 11 points in the quarter.
 
New Lady Chaps Antoinette Iroko, Allea Harris, Bobbi Chitsey and Olivia Robertson each made their LCU debut in the second half. Harris hit a three-pointer on her first shot attempt, Chitsey produced five points in the fourth quarter (knocked down her first three-point attempt) and Robertson was 2-for-2 from the line in the fourth quarter for her first collegiate points.
 
All 14 players on roster played for LCU and 10 produced points. The team shot 40% (24/60) from the field and Hoppel was 7-of-11. She knocked down six of LCU's 10 three-pointers (LCU was 10/20 for 50% from the perimeter). Defensively, LCU held Metro to 30.4% (17/56) from the field. The 44 points by Metro State was their lowest offensive output since scoring 43 on Mar. 1, 2014 (vs. UC-Colorado Springs) and the 28-point deficit was their worst deficit since losing 67-38 (29 points) to Quincy on Nov. 28, 2008. The Roadrunners end their Pueblo stay 0-2.
 
Hoppel claimed Tournament MVP honors and Hampton was named to the All-Tournament Team. LCU was the only 2-0 team at the tournament and it is the first time under head coach Steve Gomez (13^th season) in which LCU opened the season 2-0, with the two opening wins coming on the road. LCU played three exhibition games and two regular season games on the road and finally head home for their home opener Friday hosting Eastern New Mexico at Rip Griffin Center.


TURNING POINT
LCU's 19-2 first quarter run to give them a 25-9 lead gave LCU a big enough cushion to control the game. Even with Metro's 10-0 start the the second quarter, the Lady Chaps lead never seemed in doubt.

INSIDE THE STATS
LCU produced 13 steals in the game, which would have ranked as the second most last season. Hampton and Hoppel each produced five steals. It marked the most by a Lady Chap since Nicole Hampton produced seven against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 21, 2013.