OKLAHOMA CITY (February 4, 2016) – Nicole Hampton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for her 36th career double-double and No.1 Lubbock Christian University improved to 19-0 on the season with an 87-59 road win at Oklahoma Christian University Thursday evening at The Eagles' Nest.
 
LCU never trailed in the contest and due in part to a fast offensive start for Hampton. She recorded 11 points in the opening quarter and helped LCU lead 21-16 in the opening quarter of play. OC opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run to tie the game 21-21, but LCU combated the Lady Eagles run with a three-pointer by Blair Taylor and a field goal by Hampton for a 5-0 run of their own. The run was extended with a trio of field goals by Tess Bruffey and developed into a 16-2 run for a 37-23 lead with 5:06 to go in the half. LCU opened the game 5-of-8 from three-point range to help pull away in the first half. They closed the half on a 5-0 run to lead 46-30 at the half.
 
Hampton nearly completed a double-double in the opening half, as she had 15 points and nine rebounds in the first half.  She also had five assists and was on pace for a triple-double. Hampton was able to climb the LCU all-time career scoring charts, as she surpassed Darla Lynch (1,529 points from 1979-1983) and moved into fifth all-time in career scoring.
 
The Lady Chaps were 54.3% (19/35) from the field in the first half and the shooting success carried over into the second half. Kellyn Schneider opened the second half with an old-fashioned three-point play and it helped the Lady Chaps to a 10-2 run to open the half for a 56-32 lead. They led as much as 29 points (71-42) in the third quarter.  OC cut LCU's lead to 71-49 in the third quarter, but LCU took any wind remaining in the Lady Eagles sails with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter via a pair of field goals from Tess Bruffey and a three-pointer by Kelsey Hoppel.
 
LCU was 57.7% (15/26) from the field in the second half and finished the game 55.7% (34/61) from the field. The Lady Chaps dressed 14 players and 11 of them had a field goal in the game (eight of nine players that touched the floor in the opening half produced at least one field goal). Hampton led LCU with 19 points and the Lady Chaps also received 14 points from Hoppel and 13 points from Bruffey, who also finished with six rebounds, three blocks and a career-high five assists. Hampton was four assists shy (6) of a triple-double.
 
OC, who was 32.8% (22/67) from the field, received 22 points from McKenzie Stanford and 18 points from Sarah Parker. The Lady Eagles, falling to 10-12 overall and 7-5 in conference, were held to 4-of-19 (21.1%) from three-point range.
 
The Lady Chaps improved to 11-0 in Heartland Conference play and they complete their three-game road trip Saturday in Wichita, Kansas facing Newman. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium.
 
TURNING POINT
Oklahoma Christian never led but had tied the game at 21-21, but then in a span of four minutes went on a 16-2 run. LCU was 7-of-8 from the field during the run, with three-pointers from Bailey Haist and Taylor in the mix. Meanwhile, OC was 1-of-8 from the field during the sequence.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The game was the seventh consecutive game in which an LCU opponent has shot 70% or better from the free-throw line. Their prior meeting (Jan. 9, 2016) marked the first time an LCU opponent had shot at least 70% from the line (with at least 10 attempts). At the time, LCU had led the nation in free-throw defense (teams shooting the worst from the line). Thursday, OC was 11-of-12 from the line for a 91.7% shooting mark. Sarah Parker was 8-for-8, which is the best individual shooting performance from the line by an LCU opposing player this season.