OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (15-12, 10-5) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (15-10, 9-4)
Thursday, February 23, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
TV: Fox 34 News Now
Radio: KJTV am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: OC leads 29-22
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FINAL COUNTDOWN
Lubbock Christian University play their final regular season contests this week, wrapping up the regular season at home hosting Oklahoma Christian (Thursday) and St. Edward's (Saturday). Following the two games, the Lady Chaps will head to Tulsa, Okla. for the Heartland Conference Tournament. LCU enters the week in third place in the conference with an 10-4 conference record (15-10 overall). St. Edward's (13-2) and St. Mary's (11-3) each set ahead of LCU in the standings. St. Edward's has already clinched at least a share of the regular season title. LCU can not finish any better than second place and can't finish any worse than fifth place depending on this week's action.
LOOKING BACK AT THEIR LAST CONTEST
Lubbock Christian University set a program single game record with 18 three-pointers and the Lady Chaparrals cruised to 100-60 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State in Heartland Conference play Saturday afternoon inside Rip Griffin Center.
Nine different Lady Chaps connected from downtown in the game, with seven different players hitting at least two three-pointers. LCU eclipsed the prior record of 17, which was set on Dec. 10, 2015 against Oklahoma City inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps were 62.1% from three-point range (18-of-29) Saturday.
LCU had more three-point field goals (18) than two-point field goals in the game (13), with LCU combining the two to shoot 54.4% (31/57) from the field. All 11 Lady chaps that stepped on the floor had at least a point, with four players finishing in double figures.
Tess Bruffey had another solid performance with 18 points, eight blocks and six rebounds in 23 minutes of action. LCU also received 16 points from
Hannah Harbin, 13 points from
Claire Bruffey and 11 points from
Allea Harris, who also had one of 11 blocks produced by LCU. Claire and Tess each had three three-pointers to lead LCU in the category. Freshman
Maddi Chitsey joined the mix with her first career three-pointer to go along with a career high seven points and six rebounds.
The contest was never close after a first quarter in which LCU led 24-19, despite 13 points in the quarter from OPSU's Taylor Acosta. LCU used a 19-2 run in the second quarter to leap out to a 48-25 lead with 3:07 left in the first half. LCU led 48-27 at the half. LCU opened the second half on a 14-4 run to lead 62-31. LCU led as much as 99-56 in the contest.
Kambrey Blakey made a free-throw with 28 seconds left to hit the 100-point mark for LCU.
Teams combined for 44 fouls leading to 56 free-throw attempts. OPSU was 79.3% from the line and tallied 23 of their 60 points from the free-throw line. The Aggies were 28.8% (17/59) from the field.
ANOTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HONOR FOR BRUFFEY
The United State Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Lubbock Christian University's
Tess Bruffey has been named this recipient of the Women's Division II National Player of the Week for the week ending February 19.
Bruffey earned the first Heartland Conference Player of the Week three-peat of the season following a week where she eclipsed 250 career blocks. Bruffey helped LCU to a 2-0 week with averages of 24 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks. She became the first Lady Chap since the 2013-14 season to notch 30 points in a game with a career high against Newman. Tess had her eighth double-double with 11 rebounds to go along with the 30 points. She followed with 18 points and 8 blocks against Oklahoma Panhandle State. She sank three three-pointers as the Lady Chaps set a program record with 18 made triples in the game. Tess was 6-of-11 (.545) from three-point range on the week. This is the Lubbock native's second USBWA national weekly honor of the season (and of her career) and the program's third. Last season,
Nicole Hampton claimed the honor for the week ending Feb 14, 2016.
ENDING AT HOME
LCU has only played nine of their 25 games at home this season. They are 9-0 at home this season and 34-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games. LCU holds the nation's longest home win streak at 33 games and have won 40 consecutive conference home games.
Tess Bruffey leads LCU at home this season with an average of 19.1 points per game. She also averages 9.0 rebounds 4.0 blocks at home. LCU is shooting 46.6% at home and holding opponents to a 30.3% shooting mark at home this season. LCU is averaging a 73.6 - 50.1 scoring advantage over their opponents at home this season.
RANKINGS UPDATE
The NCAA released their second South Central Region regional rankings of the season Wednesday and St. Mary's was the only Heartland Conference team in the mix. The final regional rankings determine the eight-team regional field to open NCAA Div. II postseason play (following conference tournaments).
1. Colorado State-Pueblo
2. Eastern New Mexico
3. Angelo State
4. West Texas A&M
5. St. Mary's (Texas)
6. Texas A&M-Commerce
7. Regis (Colorado)
8. Colorado-Colorado Springs
9. Fort Lewis
10. Colorado Mesa
D-FENCE
LCU's defense ranks second nationally, holding the opposition to a 32.9% shooting mark, despite ranking 225th nationally in three-point shooting defense (33.0%). LCU has allowed 151 three-pointers this season, but inside the arc, their defense has held opponents to a 32.9% shooting mark.
100-CLUB
Saturday, LCU hit the 100-point mark in a 100-60 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State. Their 100 points marked the 18th time LCU has reached at least 100 points in a game under
Steve Gomez's coaching tenure and it is the 27th time overall in program history. It was their first mark of 100 points this season.
BLOCKING THINGS OUT
LCU, who led NCAA in blocks last season, leads the NCAA this season in blocks per game (5.9) and is third in total blocks (148).
Tess Bruffey ranks second nationally in blocks per game (3.9) and is second in total blocks (89). Each block Bruffey garners adds to her career totals (257), which are program and Heartland Conference career records.
SENIORITY
This week marks the final home games for LCU senior members. Saturday is Senior Day and LCU will recognize the LCU careers of
Claire Bruffey,
Bailey Haist,
Hannah Harbin,
Allea Harris and
Allison Szabo. Szabo is the only senior member that will not be suited up due to a season-ending injury she suffered.
PARTY LIKE ITS 2017
Tess Bruffey has posted at least 14 points in 12 of the 13 games LCU played in 2017 (at least 18 points in last five games played). She averaged 17.7 points a game in January and is averaging 22.3 points a game in February. Bruffey is 16-of-25 (64.0%) from three-point range in February (she was 10-of-48, 20.8%, prior to the February stretch).
Hannah Harbin is having a hot February as well, averaging 12.2 points per game and she is 59.5% from the field and 78.9% (15/19) from the free-throw line.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OC
• The Lady Eagles, who went 14-15 last season (5-10 on the road) are 15-12 this season, with a 10-5 record in conference play.
• The Heartland preseason picked OC to finish third in the conference. They went 12-6 in conference play last season. Sarah Parker and McKenzie Stanford received Preseason All-Conference accolades
• Last Thursday, OC head coach Stephanie Findley claimed her 600th career coaching win. The 32nd-year head coach, coaching her 1,000th game at her alma mater, became the 65th women's basketball coach in college hoops history to record 600 career wins. Already Oklahoma's career leader in coaching wins – by 101 wins over her nearest competition – she ranks 35th nationally at any level.
• OC ranks 11th nationally in free-throws made (444) and is 21st in free-throw attempts (592). McKenzie Stanford ranks 10th nationally in attempts (180) and has converted on 122 of them (22nd nationally).
• Stanford ranks 11th nationally in field goal attempts with 442 on the season, which is an astonishing rate of 16.4 shot attempts per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST OC
OC leads the all-time series 29-22 dating back to 1979. Despite trailing the all-time series, LCU has won 18 of the last 21 meetings. The Lady Chaps have won the prior 11 meetings, with OC's last win coming on Feb. 17, 2011. LCU has scored at least 100 points in three of the prior eight encounters. Both teams are former Sooner Athletic Conference foes.
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. OC
Jan. 21, 2017 (Oklahoma City, Okla.) - LCU :73 - OC:64
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.
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). 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.
