LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (10-8, 5-2) at NEWMAN (13-8, 3-6)
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 5:30 p.m.
Fugate Gymnasium (Wichita, Kan.)
Radio: KJTV am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: LCU leads 5-1
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MAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
Lubbock Christian University was originally scheduled to play Newman University Saturday, Jan. 14 in Wichita, Kan., but Mother Nature stepped in with an Winter Storm Jupiter, which postponed the contest for Monday, Jan. 30. It will mark LCU's first game since Jan. 21 (73-64 win at Oklahoma Christian), and it gives LCU their 14th contest (of 19) away from home. LCU enters the game in third place in the Heartland Conference, with a 5-2 conference mark (10-8) overall. They sit behind St. Edward's and St. Mary's, who are each 9-1 to co-lead the conference.
LOOKING BACK AT THEIR LAST CONTEST
Lubbock Christian University knocked down a season high 13 three-pointers to counter a 24-point performance from Oklahoma Christian's McKenzie Stanford, and the Lady Chaparrals claimed a 73-64 Heartland Conference road win inside Eagles' Nest on Jan. 21st.
It was a sluggish start to the game, as the two teams combined 1-for-10 from the field to open the game. LCU, who was 1-for-4 in the game's opening 10 shot attempts, ended up
improving to 3-of-6, with back-to-back field goals by
Allison Szabo, while OC would eventually go without a field goal for their opening eight shot attempts. Stanford hit OC's first field goal with a three-pointer as 3:52 remained in the first quarter. With OC's first four points of the game coming from the free-throw line, Stanford's trifecta cut LCU's lead to 10-7.
Bobbi Chitsey had an old fashioned three-point play to extend LCU's lead to 13-7 before the Eagles marched back. OC ended up with 16 points in the first quarter, with half (8) of the points coming off free-throw attempts. LCU closed the quarter 1-of-6 from the field over the final 3:38 and the two teams were tied 16-16.
LCU shot 55.9% (19/34) over the middle quarters to get separation from the Lady Eagles. The Lady Chaps were 6-of-7 shooting inside the arc in the second quarter and added five three-pointers for a 30-point quarter.
Tess Bruffey posted nine points in the quarter. Szabo spearheaded LCU's balance attack with 10 points in the half, as Bruffey and
Bailey Haist each had nine points. LCU out-scored OC 30-17 in the quarter, with Stanford providing eight of OC's 17 points in the quarter. She finished with 17 points in the half, going 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, but her efforts still had the Lady Eagles trailing LCU at the half 46-33. LCU shot 75% (9-of-12) inside the arc in the opening half. LCU nailed four three-pointers in the opening four minutes of the third quarter and used a layup by
Hannah Harbin to extend their lead to 63-43 halfway through the quarter for LCU's largest lead of the game. The game would remain 63-43 over the next 3:06 until Addy Clift nailed a long range shot for OC. LCU went a span of 5:17 without a point and OC closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to cut LCU's lead to 65-53 through three quarters.
The scoring woes leaked into the fourth quarter for the Lady Chaps, with LCU held to two field goals and 16.7% shooting (2-of-12) in the quarter. Each field goal for LCU was a three-pointer. Szabo connected from long range along with Haist, who finished with six three-pointers. It was enough to hold off the Lady Eagles, as LCU's defense held OC to a 21.1% (4/19) shooting mark in the quarter. Stanford closed her performance with a three-pointer as 55 seconds remained to cut LCU's lead to 71-64 and it was the closest they would get.
The contest had some abnormal numbers, as LCU out-rebounded OC 41-40, but OC had a 12-5 scoring advantage in second chance scoring (17 offensive rebounds). LCU committed six more turnovers (16-10) than OC, but the points off turnovers matched at 13-13.
Each team had a trio of players in double figures, with a double-double involved. Stanford led all scorers with 24 points and completed a double-double with 11 rebounds. Bruffey had her fourth double-double of the season (14 points, 11 rebounds) and her first since Nov. 26, 2016 against Lenoir-Rhyne in Puerto Rico. OC had 12 points by Clift and 11 points from Sarah Parker. Clift and Parker combined for 21 of their 23 points in the second half. Haist led LCU with 18 points and also had a career high six rebounds. Szabo, who eclipsed 800 career points in the contest, finished with 15 points.
The Lady Chaps shot 44.3% from the field (27-61) and shot 38.2% (13/34) from long range. OC was 29.9% from the field (20-of-67), with half (10) of their field goals coming from beyond the arc (10/28, 35.7%). OC also converted 14-of-15 free-throw attempts (93.3%), knocking down their first 13 attempts.
STARTING THINGS OFF
Last season, LCU used the same starting five players for every regular season game. Heading into Monday's game at Newman, LCU has three players that have started in all 18 games of the season. That number will be reduced to two once the game tips off, as
Allison Szabo will not only miss her first start of the season, but will miss the remainder of her senior season. Szabo, a senior from Merkel, Texas suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice this week. She currently leads the Lady Chaps in rebounds (145) and is second in scoring with a 9.9 scoring average.
Hannah Harbin and
Olivia Robertson will serve as the only two Lady Chaps that have started in every game this season, if they start Monday.
ON THEIR COURT
Tess Bruffey leads LCU in road play, with an average of 12.4 points a game.
Bobbi Chitsey (15/17) and
Olivia Robertson (16/19) are a combined 86.1% (31/36) from the he free-throw line on the road. An area hampering LCU on the road is turnovers (averaging 16.3 on the road, while forcing an average of 11.8) and points from the free-throw line (averaging 9.9 points from the line, compared to 13.2 by the opposition). LCU opened the season 0-4 on the road, but have since gone 4-2, with wins in three of their last four road games for a 4-6 road mark on the season.
LONG DISTANCE CALLS
LCU has at least 10 three-pointers made in four of their last six games and are coming off a season high 13 three-pointers against Oklahoma Christian. The rate has them averaging seven three-pointers a game on the season, which ranks second in the Heartland Conference.
D-FENCE
LCU's defense ranks third nationally, holding the opposition to a 32.7% shooting mark, despite ranking 243rd nationally in three-point shooting defense (33.9%). LCU has allowed 116 three-pointers this season, but inside the arc, their defense has held opponents to a 32.2% shooting mark.
MILESTONES
- With
Allison Szabo suffering a season-ending injury, which also will end her LCU career, she ranks tied for fifth on LCU's career blocks list with Mamy N'Kolomoni, who had 93 blocks from 1998-2002.
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Tess Bruffey is 19 points shy of joining the 1,000-point club in her LCU career.
BLOCKING THINGS OUT
LCU, who led NCAA in blocks last season, ranks eighth in the NCAA this season in blocks per game (5.5) and is 11th in total blocks (99).
Tess Bruffey ranks sixth nationally in blocks per game (3.3) and is eighth in total blocks (53). Each block Bruffey garners adds to her career totals (217), which are program and Heartland Conference career records.
FOUL LANGUAGE
LCU ranks second in the conference and 29th nationally in committing the fewest amount of fouls. The Lady Chaps have been whistled for 273 fouls on the season, but despite the discipline play, their opponents have attempted 33 more free throws on the season.
PARTY LIKE ITS 2017
Tess Bruffey has posted at least 14 points in five of the six games LCU has played in January. She is averaging 16.3 points a game in the month.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NU
• The Jets, who went 12-15 last season (7-5 at home) are 13-8 this season, with a conference mark of 3-6. They have played their last four games on the road and have not been home since Jan. 7, which has been their only home game since Dec. 19.
• The Heartland preseason picked Newman to finish tied for sixth in the conference. With a 3-6 Heartland record this season, the Jets are sitting alone in sixth place in the standings.
• NU opened the season 10-2, which featured a 10-game win streak, but since then, they have gone 3-6 and enter Monday seeking to end a three-game skid.
• The Jets are 1-4 this season in games decided by single digits, yet they are 19th nationally in scoring margin (15.2), as they are 12-4 in games decided by at least 10 points.
• The combination of 205 steals (ranks 27th nationally) and 45% shooting from the field (18th nationally) has them ranking second in the conference in points per game (72.5).
THE SERIES AGAINST NU
The two programs have met six times and all as Heartland Conference foes. LCU leads the all-time series 5-1, with LCU claiming the last three meetings. The Lady Chaps swept last season's series. LCU fell 52-46 on Jan. 8, 2015 in Wichita, Kan., marking NU's lone win in the all-time series. LCU is 2-1 all-time in Wichita against NU and 2-2 all-time in Kansas (against all opponents).
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. NU
Feb. 6, 2016 (Wichita, Kan.) - LCU: 85 - NU: 57
Coaching in his 404th game, No.1 Lubbock Christian University women's basketball head coach
Steve Gomez claimed his 300th coaching victory, as the Lady Chaparrals received 18 points from
Tess Bruffey and a double-double from
Nicole Hampton (17 points, 10 rebounds) en route to an 85-57 Heartland Conference win over Newman University at Fugate Gymnasium.
The Lady Chaps were prepared for the occasion on the road, as the team surprised Gomez in the locker room after the game with a cake and cupcakes. The players and staff also surprised him with personal congratulatory letters. Gomez, in his 13th season, is 300-104 (74.3%) in his coaching career.
The team's focus was to revenge a loss in Wichita, from a season ago, and to reward their coach with his 300th win. They succeeded and it did not take long to jump out to a big lead.
Kelsey Hoppel and
Haley Fowler opened the game with three-pointers and LCU had the first eight points of the game. Newman cut the LCU lead to 10-5 but LCU responded with a 10-0 run and led 20-5 seven minutes into the game. They led 24-12 at the end of the opening quarter.
Hampton and Hoppel each had a trio of field goals in the second quarter and they each had 10 points in the opening half. Hoppel opened the second quarter with a three-pointer and it opened a 9-0 run to start the quarter. LCU was 13-of-20 (65%) shooting inside the arc in the first half and the pair of redshirt seniors combined for a 7-for-7 shooting mark in the half inside the perimeter. LCU led 48-27 at the half.
Bruffey had 15 of her 18 points in the second half, with 11 in the third quarter. LCU shot 56% (14-of-25) from the field in the second half, and that was with them missing four of their final five attempts in the game. They led as much as 85-48 (37 point lead with 2:42 remaining in the game) before Newman closed the game on a 9-0 run.
LCU was 52.5% (32/61) from the field in the game and held Newman to shoot 37.9% (22/58). Newman had 26 points from inside the arc and 27 points beyond the arc with nine three-point field goals made.
Each team had four players in double figures offensively. Hoppel (13 points) and Szabo (10 points) joined Hampton and Bruffey. Hampton's double-double was her fifth of the season and she has produced back-to-back double-double performances. She also had five assists and four steals. Newman's Natalia Hausmann led the team with 12 points. Iva Krstevska finished with 11 points and Bria DeGrate and Shaunice Robinson each finished with 10 points in the loss, which placed Newman with a 10-11 record and 4-9 in conference.
Hoppel had four three-pointers and moved into a tie with Sierra Lovorn (2005-09) for second on the program's all-time three-point list. Each have 234 in their LCU career.
