LUBBOCK, Texas (February 27, 2016) – No.1 Lubbock Christian University had to fight off a 25-point performance from Texas A&M International University's Jessica Prieto with 18 points each from seniors Nicole Hampton and Kelsey Hoppel, as the Lady Chaparrals celebrated Senior Day and their regular season finale with a 74-61 win to finish the regular season unbeaten overall (26-0) and in Heartland Conference play (18-0).
 
It appeared another signature quick start by LCU was going to carry them once again Saturday, jumping out to an 8-0 lead one minute into the game. The start was spirited by consecutive three-pointers from Kelsey Hoppel, but TAMIU had their first of many responses to LCU runs. The Dustdevils responded with a 7-0 run and cut LCU's lead to 8-7. Hoppel hit a third three-pointer (5:24 into the game) and Hampton connected as well to extend the LCU lead to 14-7. They jumped out to an 18-10 lead before taking an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Prieto had 10 points in the second quarter and used one of two three-pointers in the quarter to cap an 8-1 run, which cut an LCU lead from 21-13 to 22-21. It was part of a sequence in which the Dustdevils went a span of 6:46 outscoring LCU 18-6 for a 31-27 lead (2:12 remaining in half). Bailey Haist and Tess Bruffey answered with three-pointers to help LCU close the half on an 8-2 run for a 35-33 halftime lead.
 
The third quarter was back and forth with LCU never leading by more than eight points and never leading by less than two points. The LCU 8-2 run to close the first half was part of a 13-2 LCU run, as LCU opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run for a 40-33 lead 1:44 into the quarter. Each time TAMIU cut the game to a one-possession game, LCU had a response. Chelsea Salom produced a layup to cut LCU's lead to 42-20 in the quarter and LCU's response was a 6-0 run capped with another three-pointer by Hoppel. LCU led 54-51 to start the fourth quarter and Prieto helped cut the lead to 56-55, which turned out to be as close as TAMIU would get. Bruffey responded with back-to-back buckets to push the lead to 60-55 before another three-pointer by Prieto got the Dustdevils within a pair at 60-58. From that point, LCU closed the game's final 5:53 with a 14-3 run. TAMIU went scoreless the final 2:21 of the game. Each team had senior leaders fighting it out in the quarter. Prieto scored eight of TAMIU's final 10 points, while Hampton scored eight points for LCU over the final 4:27 of the game (six in the final 1:14 and over a stretch of 35 seconds).
 
TAMIU headed into the fourth quarter shooting 52% (18/34) from the field, but they were 4-of-17 (23.5%) from the field in the fourth quarter. Despite the fourth quarter struggles, TAMIU still finished with the best shooting percentage by an LCU opponent this season (43.1%). Both teams were solid from downtown. TAMIU was 52.4% (11/21) from three-point range (Prieto was 5-of-9), while LCU was 50% (11/22) from long range.
 
Hoppel was 6-of-10 from three-points range and her six three-point field goals placed her as the program's career leader in three-point field goals (253) ahead of Jordan Hampton, who had 248 from 2005-09. Hampton also clinched some milestones in the game, going 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to place her second on LCU's career free-throw list with 463 made free-throws, passing Brittany Roberts (459 from 2008-12). She also had six field goals to place her fifth on LCU's career list of field goals with 538, which moved her past Jordan Hampton, who had 536 from 2005-09. Roberts and Jordan are Nicole's older sisters.
 
Prieto, 10-of-23 from the field, tallied 25 points marking the most points by an LCU opponent this season and topping her prior mark of 24 points from the two team's prior season meeting in Laredo. Joining Prieto was Keiona Mathews, who tallied 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
Hampton missed a double-double, tallying nine assists to go along with her 18 points. Hoppel matched a season high in three-pointers and rebounds, getting six in each category. Bruffey joined Hampton and Hoppel in double figures with 10 points.
 
This season's Senior Day witnessed the recognition of seniors Blair Taylor, Haley Fowler, Kellyn Schneider, Hampton and Hoppel. Hampton and Hoppel , who played the same four seasons together, finish their career with 41 consecutive conference wins and had a 38-0 record in Heartland Conference games.
 
LCU closes the regular season 26-0 overall, 18-0 in conference and 13-0 at home. TAMIU fell to 15-11 overall and 12-6 in conference. The Dustdevils had a chance for the No.2-seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament, but the loss to LCU knocked them to the No.3-seed. LCU will serve as the top-seed and will face eight-seeded Texas-Permian Basin Thursday at noon in Tulsa, Okla. More information will be released soon containing additional tournament details.
 
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
There were six lead changes in the game, but LCU was able to prevent a seventh by going 5-of-7 from the field over the final 8:03 of the game, which led to the 14-3 LCU run to close the game.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Senior Days and regular season finales have led to many adventures for LCU. Under head coach Steve Gomez, LCU is 9-4 on Senior Day games and 6-7 in regular season finales.