WINTER PARK, Fla. (November 28, 2015) – Lubbock Christian University left Warden Arena Saturday with some hardware. The trophy was not to signify their 1,000th game in program history, but to recognize the Lady Chaparrals for winning the title game of the Rollins College Thanksgiving Tournament, as Nicole Hampton's double-double of 17 rebounds (career high) and 11 points led them to a 66-38 win over Rollins.
 
LCU won by 28 points despite producing their worst shooting percentage since Feb. 2, 2013 (37.3%). Twenty-Four hours following Friday's 82.4% second half shooting performance, Lubbock Christian was 42.9% from the field Saturday (22/56).
 
Through the opening 11 field goal attempts by LCU, Hampton was 3-of-5 from the field, but the rest of the team was a combined 0-of-6. Rollins led 8-5 halfway into the first quarter before LCU finally found their groove… a term used loosely as it would be their only groove of the game. LCU closed the first half out-scoring Rollins 9-4, as Tess Bruffey and Bailey Haist drained three-pointers in the stretch to give LCU a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Fortunately for LCU, their defense helped counter their bad shooting performance. Midway through the second quarter, LCU held Rollins to a 1-for-18 (5.5%) shooting stretch over a 12-minute span. Meanwhile, LCU went on a 20-2 run, with 18 of the points occurring in the second quarter. Neither team scored for the opening 2:31 of the quarter and it took 3:36 before the first field goal was made in the half. Despite the large run, LCU went a span of 4:22 of the run without a field goal.
 
Kellyn Schneider and Allison Szabo produced LCU's only field goals of the third quarter, as LCU went 2-of-9 (22.2%) from the field in the quarter. They had four points from the field in the quarter, but still outscored Rollins 13-9 in the quarter, as LCU had nine points in the quarter from the free-throw line (9-of-10 from the line in the quarter.
 
The fourth quarter was not much different. LCU missed their first four field goal attempts, but closed the game going 5-of-8 from the field with a three-pointer by Bobbi Chitsey closing the scoring for LCU.
 
Rollins (3-3) was never able to seize the opportunity. The closest the Tars were able to rally back was cutting LCU's lead to 53-36 with 6:05 to go in the fourth quarter. LCU responded on a 13-2 run to close the game.
 
LCU was cold from the field, but Rollins was colder. The Tars were 28.3% (15/53) from the field and 20% (3/15) from long-range. It marks the third time (out of six games) the Lady Chaps have held their opponent to under a 29% shooting mark in a game (LCU held opponents to under 29% shooting in a total of eight games last season). Only one Tar had over six points from the field, as Jasmine Stone led Rollins with 12 points.
 
Hampton recorded her second double-double of the season and the 34th of her LCU career. She nearly had it achieved at the half (10 points and nine rebounds at halftime). The mark in rebounds is the most since Schneider had 18 last season (Jan. 15, 2015) against Rogers State.
 
Kelsey Hoppel led all scorers in the game with 14 points. She went 4-for-9 from three-point range. LCU also received 13 points from Tess Bruffey. LCU out-scored Rollins 22-4 in paint scoring, 15-9 in points off turnovers (5-0 in the first half), 13-6 in second chance scoring and 19-8 in bench production.
 
Bruffey received All-Tournament Team honors and Hampton claimed the Tournament MVP accolade. LCU improved to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in true road games (2-0 in neutral site games for a mark of 4-0 total in games played away from home).
 
The game was the 1,000th game in program history. The win places their all-time program record at 561-439 (56.1%). LCU now returns home, where they will play five of their next seven games. They begin the string Thursday hosting Midwestern State at 6 p.m. at Rip Griffin Center. Fans are encouraged to wear their ugliest Christmas sweater for a prized contest.
 
TURNING POINT
The game's turning point came with 5:42 remaining in the first half with a lay-up by Hampton. LCU held Rollins to a 1-for-18 (5.5%) shooting stretch over a 10-minute span (Rollins went from 8:08 remaining in the first half until 5:31 remained in the third quarter without a field goal). Meanwhile, LCU went on a 20-2 run, with 18 of the points occurring in the second quarter.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Hampton's career high 17 rebounds matched her with Darla Lynch and with a share of second place on the program's all-time rebounding list with 838 career rebounds. It is the second consecutive game Hampton has moved up the career records list. Friday she moved past Sherry Blackwell and into second place on the program's all-time steals list.