LUBBOCK, Texas (February 11, 2016) – Nicole Hampton, two assists shy of a triple-double, completed her third straight double-double performance, as her 22 points and 12 rebounds led No.1/2 Lubbock Christian University to an 82-54 Heartland Conference victory over University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
UAFS came out strong in the contest, opening the game with a three-pointer from Candice Followwell and holding LCU without a field goal for the first 4:23 of the game. LCU did however score their first six points from the free-throw line and never trailed by more than three-points in the quarter. Hampton took over once LCU trailed 13-11 with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter, as she scored five straight points and sparked a 7-0 run to give LCU an 18-13 lead.
 
LCU never trailed after the 7-0 run. Teams traded buckets most of the second quarter until the final four minutes of the half. Ashley Bean hit a three-pointer for UAFS, cutting LCU's lead to 28-27 with 3:53 remaining in the half, but LCU responded with an 8-2 run. A late bucket by Skai Thompson ended the stretch and cut LCU's halftime lead to 36-31. Hampton had LCU's final four points of the half and finished the half with 17 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Lady Chaps grabbed some breathing room in the third quarter. Haley Fowler opened the half with a three-pointer 19 seconds into the quarter and it was one of three consecutive field goal attempts LCU hit. They produced an 11-1 run midway through the quarter and led 56-39. Fowler and Tess Bruffey each had seven points in the third quarter and LCU shot 53.3% (8/15) in the quarter (after shooting 37.5%, 9-for-24, in the first half). The offensive surge led to a 62-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Lubbock Christian out-scored the Lady Lions 20-7 in the fourth quarter. LCU went on a 17-2 run during the quarter, with Bruffey scoring nine points.  UAFS was 3-of-15 (20%) from the field during the fourth quarter.
 
LCU finished with four players in double-figures and Hampton was not the only Lady Chap with a double-double. Bruffey matched a season-high with 20 points and recorded her third career double-double with 10 rebounds (first of the season). Hampton's double-double was her third straight of the season (sixth overall on the season) and her 38^th of her career. Her 22 points marked her 19^th career game of 20 or more points (fourth of the season) and her 90^th career game of 10 or more points. Fowler provided 13 points and Hoppel chipped in 10 for LCU. Andrea Wilson was UAFS's only player in double-figures, as she scored 11 in the loss, which put UAFS to 16-7 overall and 9-5 in the conference.
 
Both teams strived at the line, as UAFS was 90% (9/10) and LCU was 88.2% (30/34). UAFS made their first nine attempts, while LCU made their first 11 attempts from the line. LCU produced 13 blocks in the game, which was one off the team's record inside Rip Griffin Center. Bruffey had a season-high six blocks placing her four shy of a triple-double.
 
LCU improved to 21-0 with the win and 13-0 in conference. They are a win away (or a Texas A&M International loss) from claiming the Heartland Conference regular season title. Their shot of clinching the honor comes Saturday at 1 p.m. hosting Rogers State inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU outscored UAFS 28-12 from 3:53 remaining in the second quarter to 3:09 left in the third quarter, turning a 28-27 lead into a 56-39 lead. The stretch started off with UAFS going 3:30 without a field goal.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
LCU went 17-of-18 (94.4%) from the free-throw line in the first half and 30-for-34 (88.2%) from the line in the game. The 30 free-throws made was a season high. The 30 made attempts is the most since making 33 on Dec. 6, 2013 at Arkansas-Fort Smith.