LAREDO, Texas (December 17, 2015) – Kellyn Schneider led No.4/12 Lubbock Christian University with 16 points and teammate Nicole Hampton's double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) helped LCU out-shine Texas A&M International's Jessica Prieto and Keiona Mathews, who each had 24 points, and LCU opened Heartland Conference play with a 75-55 win Thursday night at United High School.
 
Schneider's 16 points were a season high and one point off matching her career high. She was 8-of-11 from the field and also added five assists and nine rebounds in 26 minutes of action.
 
The game was evenly played until midway through the first quarter, as LCU broke a 6-6 tie with a 6-0 run. Allison Szabo notched four straight points during the run and LCU led 13-8 at the end of the quarter. Szabo and Schneider opened the second quarter scoring pace for LCU, and a three-pointer by Blair Taylor highlighted a 7-2 run to open the quarter with a 20-10 lead. Kelsey Hoppel was 4-of-7 from three-point range in the game and was 2-of-3 in the first half. Her two long distance connections in the opening half came during a 10-2 run to close the half, providing the Lady Chaps with a 35-20 halftime lead.
 
Twenty-two of TAMIU's 55 points were recorded in the third quarter. The Dustdevils had nine field goals in the third quarter and all were produced by either Mathews (six) or Prieto (three).  Despite the increase of offense for TAMIU, they were unable to cut into LCU's lead. LCU never had their lead dip under a 14-point advantage in the quarter. The Lady Chaps were 59.3% (16/27) from the field in the second half and 7-for-11 in the third quarter (opened the quarter with four consecutive field goals).
 
TAMIU attempted a rally late in the third quarter with a 6-0 run, which carried into the fourth quarter and cut LCU's lead to 56-44, but LCU responded with a 9-0 run to jump the lead to 65-44 with 5:17 remaining. LCU had a 16-4 scoring advantage in points in the paint in the fourth quarter.
 
LCU was 53.7% (29/54) from the field and 9-of-11 (81.8%) from the line. Hampton produced her 35^th career double-double and her third of the season. Hampton and Schneider were joined in double figures offensively by Hoppel (15 points) and Szabo (14 points). LCU outscored TAMIU 40-20 in points in the paint, 15-3 in points off turnovers and 25-0 in points off the bench. The Lady Chaps produced assists on 25 of 29 (86.2%) of their field goals. Haley Fowler produced a career-high seven assists.
 
The Dustdevils had productive performances by Prieto and Mathews, who combined for 48 of TAMIU's 55 points. TAMIU struggled from the free-throw line, going 3-for-9 (1-for-6 in the second half).
 
The win places LCU with a 9-0 overall record and puts them 1-0 in the conference for an 11^th consecutive season. LCU is 3-0 all-time in Heartland Conference openers and 12-1 all-time under head coach Steve Gomez in conference openers. TAMIU falls to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in conference.
 
A scheduling conflict with TAMIU's on-campus facility led TAMIU to seek United High School's gym as an alternative venue.  LCU will look for a tenth consecutive win Saturday in San Antonio, facing St. Mary's University at 1 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT
The Lady Chaps made late runs in each of the quarters in the first half to build their lead. In the final five minutes of the first and second quarter, LCU out-scored their opposition a combined 20-6.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
LCU did not allow any points from the Dustdevils bench. In the past two combined games, LCU has only allowed one point off the bench.