LUBBOCK, Texas (January 7, 2017) – Bailey Haist and Tess Bruffey each had 18 points and Lubbock Christian University matched a season high three-game win streak with a 65-49 Heartland Conference victory over Rogers State University Saturday inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
Bruffey opened the game's scoring 13 seconds into the game and LCU never trailed, opening with an 8-2 run. RSU used back-to-back buckets by Lauren Schuldt to tie the game at 8-8 in the opening quarter. LCU, who led 13-8 after the first quarter, responded with a 10-1 run capped by a three-pointer from Haist to give LCU an 18-9 lead with 6:43 left in the second quarter. RSU would cut the deficit to a five-point differential on two occasions, but a three-pointer by Bobbi Chitsey with 26 seconds left provided LCU a 28-19 halftime lead.
 
Bruffey and Haist combined for the opening 13 points of the second half for LCU, who went on a 13-0 run and outscored RSU 16-2 for a 38-19 lead with 6:57 left in the third quarter. Halfway through the quarter, RSU went on an 11-3 scoring advantage to cut the LCU lead to 47-38 a minute into the fourth quarter. RSU would not get any closer. LCU went the final 3:52 without a field goal, but had their last nine points from the free-throw line en rout to the 65-49 win.
 
Haist and Bruffey combined for 36 of LCU's 65 points and 31 of LCU's 49 points from the field. The two also combined for 10 rebounds, with Haist matching a career high with four rebounds. Haist also matched a career high with four assists. Bruffey contributed her 18 points in 29 minutes of action, as she battled foul trouble and fouled out halfway through the fourth quarter. Hannah Harbin matched a career high with a game high nine rebounds and was a rebound short of a double-double, as she had 10 points for the Lady Chaps.
 
LCU's defense held RSU to a 23.3% (7/30) shooting mark in the first half and held them to 31% (18/58) in the game. Lauren Schuldt led RSU with 23 points, producing half (9) of RSU's 18 field goals. The rest of the team was a combined 23% (9/39) from the field. RSU out-rebounded LCU 41-35 and outscored LCU 14-2 in second chance scoring. LCU did win the turnover battle 16-9 and benefitted off a 17-5 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
 
LCU improved to 30-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games. They extended the nation's longest home win streak to 29 games and have won 36 consecutive conference home games. For the season, LCU is 8-7 overall and 3-1 in the Heartland Conference. RSU fell to 5-10 overall and 1-4 in conference. The win was LCU's eighth consecutive win over RSU in the all-time series.
 
TURNING POINT
LCU's 13-1 run at the close of the first half and opening of the second half helped LCU extend their lead to a game-high of 19 points (38-19). LCU was 6-of-8 from the field during the run. They shot 28.9% from the field in the game outside of the run.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
Tess Bruffey connected with two three-pointers in the contest. It was her first game with more than one three-pointer since nailing three long distance shots on Nov. 21 against Wayland Baptist. Hopefully a sign of getting in a downtown groove for Bruffey, who was 2-for-24 (8.3%) during a nine-game stretch prior to Saturday from long range.
 
NEXT GAME
LCU, who has played 10 of their 15 games away from home, returns to road play Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. tip in Goodwell, Okla. against Oklahoma Panhandle State.