COMMERCE, Texas (November 13, 2017) – Tess Bruffey completed a double-double in the opening half and finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, and No.23 Lubbock Christian University also received offensive production from 10 different players, as they rolled to 3-0 with a 74-39 win over Texas A&M-Commerce Monday evening inside University Field House.
 
Lubbock Christian University opened the game 5-of-7 from the field, with the opening five field goals converted by five different Lady Chaps. Meanwhile, the Lions struggled to generate any offense early. They missed their first 10 shot attempts and went 1-of-16 (6.3%) from the field in the opening quarter. LCU outscored TAMUC 23-4 in the first quarter, with Bruffey scoring 11 points for the Lady Chaps in the quarter. She was 3-for-4 from three-point range. Seven different Lady Chaps tallied at least a point in the opening quarter of play.
 
The second quarter got off to a slow start, with neither team scoring the first 2:40 into the quarter. The Lady Chaps opened the second quarter on a 7-3 run and built the lead to 30-10 on a free-throw by Bobbi Chitsey. LCU went on to hold TAMUC to one two-point field goal and four total field goals the entire first half. Bruffey had 11 points and 11 rebounds in the first half to notch her second straight double-double performance and LCU led 38-12 at the half.
 
Continuing where they left off, LCU opened the third quarter with a three-pointer from Delaney Gattis and it jumpstarted a 7-2 run for a 45-14 lead. LCU shot 61.5% (8/13) from the field in the third quarter, going 5-of-6 inside the arc. Bruffey led LCU with six points in the quarter.  Reserves flooded the court in the fourth quarter, with LCU leading 62-28 to start the quarter. Allie Schulte, who completed the contest with four steals, produced five of her eight points in the quarter to lead LCU in the frame. Maddi Chitsey converted a layup with 7:43 remaining for LCU's largest lead (68-30).
 
Caitlyn Cunyus and Olivia Robertson each had 10 points and they joined Bruffey in double figures in points.  Bruffey was 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. She was a rebound shy of matching a career high. LCU went 11-of-28 (39.3%) from long range, marking their second straight game with at least 10 three-pointers. TAMUC was held to 22.4% (13/58) shooting on the night, with Melanie Ransom leading the squad with 10 points.  
 
The win was LCU's first ever over Texas A&M-Commerce (1-2), as the teams were meeting for the first time since 2005. The Lions dropped to 1-2, matching their home loss total from last season (11-2).
 
TURNING POINT
Right off the start, LCU hit their first four field goals on five attempts, with three-pointers from Bruffey and Cunyus in the mix. TAMUC could not match the production, as Brianna Wise (entering the game averaging 15.5 points), Princes Davis (averaging 10.5 points a game) and Artaejah Gay (averaging 13.5 points a game) combined for 12 points on 4-for-23 (17.4%) shooting.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LCU opens the season with a 1-0 road record after going 5-8 on the road last season and opening the season dropping their first four road games.  Holding the opposition to a 22.4% shooting mark, it was LCU's best defensive road performance since holding Emporia State to a 22.2% (16/72) shooting mark last season (Dec. 3, 2016). It is also the first time LCU has held a home team to under 40 points since holding Rogers State to 33 on Feb. 9, 2017, and the biggest margin to win on the road since defeating Texas Permian Basin 109-56 on Feb. 20, 2016.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU improved to 3-0 and they head home for their home opener Friday at 6 p.m. hosting Western New Mexico for their first game of the Arbor Hotels Classic inside Rip Griffin Center.