LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (4-6) at TARLETON STATE (4-5)
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.                                         
Wisdom Gym (Stephenville, Texas)
Radio: KJTV am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: TSU leads 20-2
Tweet #LCUvsTSU

TUNE-UP TIME
Lubbock Christian University's eight-game road trip continues Tuesday in Stephenville, Texas, where LCU faces Tarleton State University. The contest is LCU's sixth game of the trip, which spans 39 days and covers four different states and one U.S. territory (Puerto Rico). LCU is 1-4 on the trip, which includes a pair of contests against ranked opponents. Their contest with Tarleton State is their first game of the road trip in Texas, and it is LCU's final game before facing a Heartland Conference  opponent (Dec. 31 at St. Mary's).

LOOKING BACK AT THEIR LAST CONTEST
Haley Tucker (26 points) and Hayden Priddy (22 points) combined for 48 points and Southwestern Oklahoma State University knocked down 15 three-pointers, as the record number of three-pointers allowed by Lubbock Christian University led to a 90-63 Lady Bulldogs win over the Lady Chaparrals Saturday afternoon inside Pioneer Cellular Events Center.
 
Tucker was solid for SWOSU in the opening quarter, registering 17 points in the quarter off a 5-for-6 shooting performance. All her shot attempts were from three-point range, including attempts that would have garnered three points at the NBA level. She also had three steals and four rebounds in the quarter. While her and the Lady Bulldogs were shooting 53.3% (8/15) from the field in the quarter, LCU was off to a slow start. LCU was 26.7% from the field (4/15), with a mark of 1-of-9 (11.1%) from long range and eight turnovers.
 
The Lady Bulldogs opened the game with their first four made field goals coming from three-point range. SWOSU had six of eight field goals in the half come from long range and led LCU 26-9 at the quarter's completion.
 
The shooting success carried over into the start of the second half for SWOSU, with Tucker and Tyra Aska combining for seven points to build the lead to 33-13 with 7:19 remaining in the half. LCU did answer with a 13-2 run kicked off by "threes" from Caitlyn Cunyus and Bobbi Chitsey. Allison Szabo had a pair of free-throws late in the run to cut the deficit to 35-26 with 3:32 remaining in the half. A jumper by Tess Bruffey pulled the Lady Chaps within seven points (40-33) before heading into the half with a 42-33 deficit.
Tucker had half of the Lady Bulldogs production, with 21 points off 6-of-11 shooting in the first half (5-of-9 from long range). She also had six rebounds and four steals in the half.  SWOSU had 14 field goals in the opening half and seven were from three-point distance.  Szabo had 10 points at the half for LCU, who outscored SWOSU 24-16 in the second quarter.
 
SWOSU was 1-of-9 from long range in the second quarter and their streak of four straight misses ended on their opening three-point attempt of the second half, with Priddy connecting on her first of four three-pointers in the second half. It was part of an 8-2 run to open the third quarter, extending the SWOSU advantage to 50-35. Olivia Robertson, Bruffey and Chitsey combined to hit consecutive three-pointers, as LCU scored 13 of the game's following 20 points, cutting the gap to 57-48 with 4:11 left in the third quarter. SWOSU responded with three three-pointers of their own in the final 3:53 of the quarter to take a 68-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Priddy knocked down a three-pointer 46 seconds into the fourth quarter and it was part of an 11-2 run to the start the final quarter for SWOSU. LCU was unable to recover from the run.
 
SWOSU's 15 three-pointers marked the most allowed by the Lady Chaps in program history. The prior mark was 14 held by Southern Nazarene on Jan. 31, 2008. It was SWOSU's highest single game total since nailing 21 on Feb. 15, 2014 against Southeastern Oklahoma State. The Lady Bulldogs finished the game 15-of-37 from long range (40.5%). Tucker was 6-of-13 and Priddy, who entered the game shooting 19% from long distance on the season (8-of-42), was 5-of-8 in the game in three-point shooting.
 
Tucker matched a season high with her 26-point output. She also had eight rebounds, five steals and five assists. Fellow sophomore Priddy also had five rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Lady Bulldogs were 47.1% (32/68) from the field, had 13 steals and assisted on 22 of their 32 baskets in the contest. Outside the arc was not their only sign of success, as they outscored LCU 26-10 in the paint and forced LCU into 19 turnovers. They also had a 43-35 rebound advantage to outscore LCU 15-7 in second chance scoring (12-0 in second half).
 
LCU did have a career outing from Szabo, who completed her fourth career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The 13 rebounds was a career high, along with a pair of three-pointers she hit. Hannah Harbin (13 points), Chitsey (12 points) and Robertson (11 points) joined Szabo in double figures. LCU was 34.5% from the field (20/58). Szabo (2-of-3), Harbin (2-of-3) and Chitsey (2-for-4) combined to go 6-of-10 from three-point range, while the rest of the team combined 3-of-18 (16.7%).
 
BLOCK PARTY RETURNS
LCU led the nation in blocks last season and one of the big contributors in LCU's block success was Kellyn Schneider, who rewrote the Heartland Conference record books in blocks. Schneider, who had over 200 blocks in her two-year LCU career has graduated (now an assistant on the LCU staff) and is no longer on the roster, but LCU is still one of the top defensive teams in the nation in blocks. The Lady Chaps are second in the nation in blocks (67) and blocks per game (6.7), with Tess Bruffey (35) ranking third nationally and Allison Szabo (19) ranking 23rd nationally. Each are top two leaders in the conference. Bruffey is eight blocks shy of becoming LCU's all-time career blocks leader with 208.

DON'T JUST LOOK AT THE RECORD
Through 10 games, LCU is looking at a 4-6 record, which is their worst 10-game start under head coach Steve Gomez and the worst since the start of the 1992-93 season. That stated, LCU has not played the easiest of schedules.  LCU, who is 3-0 at home, has played seven of their 10 games away from home and their schedule of completed games ranks as 10th toughest schedule in NCAA Div. II, as their opponents have combined for a 68-29 record (through Dec.12) for a 70.1% win percentage. LCU's six games lost have come against opponents that have combined for a 46-12 record (79.3% win percentage). Meanwhile, LCU's men's program has played the 15th toughest schedule in NCAA Div. II. The NCAA has the Lady Chaps future opponents with a combined 40.5% win percentage.

Record of Teams LCU has lost to (through Dec.12)
Metro State 7-4
Colorado State - Pueblo 10-0
No.19 Grand Valley State 7-2
Southwestern Baptist 7-2
No.1 Emporia State 9-1
Southwestern Oklahoma State 6-3
Total: 46-12

Record of Teams LCU has defeated (through Dec. 8)
Colorado School of Mines 7-6
UTPB 4-6
Wayland Baptist 7-2
Lenoir-Rhyne 4-3
Total: 22-17

D-FENCE
LCU's defense ranks 12th nationally, holding the opposition to a 31% shooting mark, despite ranking 276th nationally in three-point shooting defense (35.9%). LCU has allowed 74 three-pointers this season, but inside the arc, their defense has held opponents to a 31.2% shooting mark.  

MILESTONES
- Tess Bruffey is two blocks shy of eclipsing 200 career blocks and is eight blocks away from 205, which would move her into the top spot, past Kellyn Schneider, as LCU's career blocks leader.
- Allison Szabo is eight blocks shy of 93 career blocks. which would move her into fifth on LCU's career blocks list and ahead of Mamy N'Kolomoni, who had 93 blocks from 1998-2002.

BLOCKING THINGS OUT
LCU, who led NCAA in blocks last season, ranks second in the NCAA this season in blocks per game (6.7) and is second in total blocks (61). Tess Bruffey ranks third nationally in blocks (35) and blocks per game (4.4). Allison Szabo ranks 23rd in blocks (19).

THREE TALK
The Lady Chaps have surrendered 26 three-pointers in the past two games, as Emporia State and Southwestern Oklahoma State combined for 26 makes on a whopping 63 attempts. It is the first time LCU has allowed more than 10 three-pointers in consecutive games since game-by-game opposing records have been kept on file since the 2008-2009 season. SWOSU made 15 three-pointers, marking the most allowed by the Lady Chaps in program history. The prior mark was 14 held by Southern Nazarene on Jan. 31, 2008.  

THAT'S FOUL
LCU ranks 24th nationally in the fewest amount of fouls, with an average of 15.1 per game, however they have been called for more fouls than their opposition in their last four consecutive games and in three of the four road games they have played. The Lady Chaps opponents have  had more free-throw attempts than the Lady Chaps in five of their last six games, and are averaging 22 attempts in their last three game (averaging 16.3 points from the line over the past three games, which is six more points from the line than LCU in the same span).  

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TSU
• The TexAnns are coming off a 17-11 record last season, which included an 11-4 home record.
• The Lone Star Conference preseason picked Tarleton State to finish fourth in the conference. They went 10-6 in conference play last season.
• TSU is 4-5 on the season and coming off a 73-68 loss at Eastern New Mexico, which ended a three-game win streak.
• The TexAnns are third in the Lone Star Conference and 78th nationally in forcing turnovers, with a rate of 19.2 forced per game.
• McKenzie Haley has four double-doubles on the season (leads LSC), as she ranks fourth in the LSC in points per game (14.4) and is second in rebounds per game (8.4).

THE SERIES AGAINST TSU
The TexAnns have dominated the all-time series 20-2, with LCU last winning on Nov. 22, 2011 (87-84). LCU is 1-10 all-time away from home against Tarleton, and the two teams have not met in Stephenville since Nov. 16, 2013 (TSU won 95-83). The last overall meeting came in Lubbock, Texas on Nov. 28, 2014, with LCU falling 73-71 in overtime. LCU has made four trips to Tarleton under Gomez, and each trip has resulted in a foul count which has stood as a season high for the Lady Chaps. They were whistled for 24 in 2008, 31 in 2010, 28 in 2011 and 27 fouls in 2013.

PREVIOUS RECAP VS. TSU
Nov. 28, 2014 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU :71 - TSU:73
Lubbock Christian University's Tess Bruffey broke the program single-game blocks mark with nine blocks and teammate Allison Szabo produced her first career double-double with career highs in points (16) and rebounds (10), but it was overshadowed by Tarleton's Kathy Thomas, who was 7-of-7 from three-point range and produced 25 points to help the TexAnns break a program single game three-point shooting mark and hold off LCU 73-71 in overtime at Rip Griffin Center in the opening night of the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic.
 
The shooting performance by Thomas, who was 2-of-11 from long range on the season entering the game, was one of the most prolific seen by a Lady Chaps opponent. Of opposing individual game-by-game records on file dating back to the 2007-2008 season, no opposing player had ever knocked down seven three-pointers against LCU. The University of Iowa transfer not only scored a career high 25 points but also had seven of the team's 13 three pointers. Meagan O'Dell was 4-of-6 and Lubbock Coronado High School product Bailey Wipff was 2-of-3 to help out the program single-game record. It was the most three-pointers knocked down by a LCU opponent since Southern Nazarene hit 14 three-pointers on Jan. 31, 2008. They were 13-of-21 to go 61.9% from long range, which is the best shooting mark from long range by a Lady Chaps opponent since Metro State went 6-of-9 (66.7%) on Nov. 15, 2009.
 
Bruffey's mark will not get the honor it deserves. The nine blocks broke LCU's single-game mark of eight, which was matched Saturday (LCU's prior home game) by Kellyn Schneider and originally set by Suzanne Copeland on Feb. 12, 1991. Bruffey, the freshman who also added eight rebounds and seven points, helped LCU produce 10 team blocks. It marks the third consecutive game LCU has produced at least 10 blocks. That had only been completed once prior to the three games over the prior 11 coaching seasons for LCU head coach Steve Gomez.
 
Focusing on the game itself, it was a thrilling game. Each squad shot over 40% from the field (LCU: 25/61, 41% / TSU: 26/58, 44.8%), neither team had more than a four-point lead after the half and the game included seven lead changes and the score tied on nine occasions.
 
The game was tied 39-39 at the end of the half and 65-65 at the end of regulation. The game was even tied 71-71 in the final minute, but with less than 25 seconds left, an O'Dell missed three-pointer deflected off a Lady Chaps player and while trying to save the ball from going out of bounds, the ball was directed to the feet of Karli Moore, who was Johnny-on-the-spot for an easy bucket to take the 73-71 lead and leaving LCU with 17 seconds to answer.
 
The final 17 seconds was a scramble for LCU. After a timeout to design a play, the drawn up play was negated by clutch defense, and a loose ball out of bounds set up another timeout and an inbounds play with less than three seconds remaining. The ball was inbounded to Haley Burton, who attempted a three-point field goal for the win, but the shot was no good off the front of the rim.
 
The game was LCU's first overtime contest since Jan. 16 of last season at St. Edward's and their first loss in overtime since Dec. 2, 2010 at Mid-America Christian. They fall to 3-2 on the season, while Tarleton, making their first visit to Lubbock since Feb. 17, 1994, improved to 3-1 on the season.
 
Tarleton's outside shooting was so solid, it trumped some of the statistics that LCU posted. LCU won the turnover department 23-21, leading to a 23-19 advantage in points off turnovers. They also out-rebounded an opponent for the first time this season (38-32), with a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounds leading to a 16-5 scoring advantage in second chance points. Despite several misses inside the paint, LCU still outscored the TexAnns 40-16 in the paint.  The Lady Chaps also had nine more points (17-8) than TSU from the line. All those LCU highlights washed away by Tarleton outscoring LCU 39-12 from beyond the arc. LCU was 4-of-16 (25.0%) from long range. It is the third consecutive game in which LCU's outside shooting percentage was 25% or less. They shot 25% or less from three-point range twice last season and have not had a three-game stretch of its kind since the final three games of the 2008-2009 season. Burton, who is three three-pointers away from cracking into the top five in LCU career history, was 0-of-5 from long range, marking only the second time in her career she was unsuccessful on at least five attempts in a game (Feb. 28, 2013 marked the only prior time in her career).
 
Haley Fowler and Szabo's performances were also overshadowed. They each had career high performances, as Fowler was 7-of-10 from the field and produced 19 points, while Szabo supplied her first and the program's fourth double-double of the season (in five games). Along with Thomas' career high, TSU received 13 points each from Karli Moore and Ikpeaku Iwobi and 12 points from Meagan O'Dell.