DENVER, Colo. (November 11, 2016) – No.4/11 Lubbock Christian University had their 35-game win streak come to an end Friday, as they opened the 2016-2017 season with a 67-51 loss at Metropolitan State University of Denver in the opening day of play at the Holiday Inn Cherry Creek Classic.
 
LCU started Friday's game with five different players than they started in every regular season game last season and in their national championship game in Indianapolis. Tess Bruffey is the only returning starter from last season and the All-American is out of the lineup with an injury. Allison Szabo was LCU's only starter that had started a game last season (she started two games during the conference tournament as Kellyn Schneider was injured). Bobbi Chitsey, Olivia Robertson and Hannah Harbin made their first career start and Bailey Haist made her first start since the 2014-2015 season.
 
With the five new starters thrown into a season opener, LCU's expectations were more of unknowns, but they probably did not expect the sluggish start they experienced Friday. LCU missed their first four field goal attempts and two free throw attempts before they finally received a field goal from Szabo 4:11 into the game, which also ended Metro State's 6-0 run to open the game. LCU was held to seven points in the opening quarter and trailed 15-7 heading into the second quarter.  The Lady Chaps ended up going 5-of-24 from the field in the first half for a 20.8% shooting mark from the field. They were 0-for-11 from three-point range (0-of-7 in the first quarter). Meanwhile, Metro State was 43.3% (13/30) from the field at the half with a 32-15 lead.
 
The Lady Chaps did not have anything more than a 3-0 run until Delaney Gaddis followed a Haist three-pointer with a field goal as 5:30 remained in the third quarter and LCU trailed 39-24. Haist ended up with a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter and was later joined with one by Allea Harris, and it was LCU's first sign of life, as they closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 41-30. LCU had trailed as much as 19 points in the quarter.  LCU was never able to cut the deficit into single digits.
 
The Roadrunners outscored LCU 11-2 in second chance scoring, taking advantage of a 43-27 rebound advantage. The lone second chance points came on a foul on an offensive rebound, which led to Harris making the free throws for two of her seven second half points.
 
Georgia Ohrdorf (16 points, 14 rebounds) and Emily Hartegan (17 points, 11 rebounds) each produced double-doubles in the win for the Roadrunners. Metro State was 60% (6-of-10) from three-point range.
 
Haist and Szabo co-led LCU with 10 points. All 10 came in the second half for Haist, who was 3-of-4 from long range in the second half. Szabo had five rebounds and five of LCU's six blocks in the game (the five blocks matched a career high for a third time). Robertson matched a career high with eight points.
 
LCU falls to 0-1 on the season and all-time, they are 24-14 in openers and 8-6 all-time in openers under Steve Gomez. The Lady Chaps also had a few positive streaks end. Their 35-game win streak ended and their 15-7 deficit at the conclusion of the first quarter ended a streak of 86 consecutive quarters in which LCU led. The 51 points was their lowest point output since scoring 46 on Jan. 8, 2015 at Newman.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU went over seven minutes without a field goal in the second quarter. Metro State took advantage with a 12-2 run.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
There is something that brings out the worst in the Lady Chaps in season openers. LCU's 32.7% (16/49) shooting mark is LCU's worst shooting mark since Nov. 15, 2014, which the Lady Chaps shot 30.6% (19/62) at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. to open the 2014-2015 season. LCU missed their first 11 three-point attempts Friday, which revisited memories of the last time LCU faced Metro State in a season opener. On Nov. 5, 2011, LCU opened the season at home, and Metro State held LCU to a 0-for-17 mark from three-point range and a 20.9% field goal shooting performance in a 61-44 loss.
 
NEXT
LCU returns right back to Friday's crime scene, as Saturday they face Colorado State – Pueblo at 6 p.m. (Central) in a neutral site contest to close their stay at the Holiday Inn Cherry Creek Classic.