WICHITA, Kan. (January 30, 2017) – Tess Bruffey's 25-point and 11-rebound double-double performance was not enough to help Lubbock Christian University overcome an 11-point second half deficit, as a late three-pointer by Newman's Natialia Hausmann helped the Jets claim a 61-60 win over LCU in a Monday night Heartland Conference contest at Fugate Gymnasium. The 25 points for Bruffey helped her eclipse 1,000 career points in her LCU career.
 
Bruffey, who had 12 points in the fourth quarter, had given LCU a 57-55 lead with a layup as 1:26 remained in the game, but they were unable to get a stop on the defensive end. Cierra Tjaden missed a three-point attempt for Newman, but Hannah Alexander was able to garner the offensive rebound and able to lay the ball up on a put-back to tie the game 57-57 with 1:03 remaining. It marked the seventh time in the contest the game was tied. LCU turned the ball over in the ensuing possession and Newman took advantage of it with Hausmann drilling a three-pointer just under 15 seconds remaining for a 60-57 Jets lead. Caitlyn Cunyus, who has 2-for-3 in the game from long range leading into the game-tying attempt, missed everything on her attempt with three seconds left, but the game was not necessarily over at the shot's conclusion. Hannah Harbin committed a foul on the inbounds and Mali Wright went to the line for Newman. She missed her first attempt, but made the second shot for a 61-57 lead. Bruffey was able to attempt a long distance shot and it was successful, but she was unable to draw a foul for a four-point play and LCU fell 61-60.
 
Newman thrived off free-throws in the game. The Jets, who average 20.6 attempts from the line per game on the season, went to the free-throw line 30 times in the game, which is the most by a Lady Chaps opponent since Colorado Colorado Springs had 31 attempts on Nov. 14, 2014. The Jets converted on 22 of the 30 attempts, which is the most since Oklahoma Panhandle State made 23 attempts on Jan. 28, 2016.  Newman outscored LCU 22-11 from the line, with five different Jets attempting at least four shots.
 
In the opening quarter, LCU opened the game with a 7-1 lead and held Newman without a field goal for the opening four minutes of the game. Newman, held to two field goals in the opening quarter, was able to keep the deficit to a 15-13 deficit at the quarter's completion, with nine of their 13 points coming from the free-throw line.
 
LCU went a span of 6:11 without a field goal in the second quarter and a span of 9:39 in which they had one field goal. Meanwhile, the Jets took advantage of LCU scoring dry spell with a 13-1 run to take a 29-19 lead. NU would lead 31-24 at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, LCU trailed 42-32 with 4:41 left in the quarter before they started to rally back. Cunyus hit a three-pointer and LCU eventually trailed 46-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps held the Jets without a field goal for a span of 6:13 and went on an 11-0 run, which was capped by a three-pointer from Bruffey for a 48-46 lead. LCU never led by more than two points in the fourth quarter and they were 0-for-5 from the field on possessions in which they were seeking to increase a two-point lead (7-of-10 outside of those five attempts in the fourth quarter).
 
LCU out-shot Newman in the game, with a 38.9% shooting mark (21/54) topping a 30.9% (17/55) mark by Newman. Bruffey was LCU's lone player in double figures. Her 25 points was one point shy of her career high. Her three three-pointers matched a career high. The double-double was her fifth of the season and she has hit the feat in consecutive games. Newman had four players in double figures. Wright led the Jets with 14 points and was joined by Bria DeGrate's 13 points, Hausmann's 11 points and Tjaden's double-double, which included 14 rebounds and 10 points.
 
LCU fell to 10-9 overall with the loss and are 5-3 in the Heartland Conference. Newman improved to 14-8 overall and 4-6 in the Heartland Conference.
 
TURNING POINT
A theme has developed this season in which an off-the-radar individual hits key three-pointers for the Lady Chaps opposition, and for Newman it was Hausmann. She entered the game 7-of-25 (28%) from three-point range and would go 2-of-3 from long range against LCU, including the go-ahead three-pointer with under 15 seconds remaining.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Junior Tess Bruffey is LCU's only active member with over 1,000 points in her LCU career. The last Lady Chaps member to reach the 1,000-point plateau was Haley Fowler, who hit the mark on Mar. 13, 2016 against West Texas A&M. She was one of three active 1,000-point members LCU had on the squad last season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Chaps return home Thursday to host Texas A&M International at Rip Griffin Center. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and is a featured game for the NCAA Division II's Basketball Showcase, with American Sports Network airing the game nationally.