HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT - QUARTERFINALS
NEWMAN (19-9, 9-7, No.6 Seed) vs. LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (17-10, 12-4, No.3 Seed)
Friday, March 3, 2017 - 12:00 p.m.
Union Multipurpose Activities Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
Radio: KJTV am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: LCU leads 6-2
|
TIME FOR MADNESS
Lubbock Christian University makes their second ever Heartland Conference Tournament appearance Friday as the No.3-seed for the 2017 edition of the tournament hosted in Tulsa, Okla. inside Union Multipurpose Activities Center (also known as John Q. Hammons Arena and simply UMAC). This season marks the second season of the tournament in Tulsa, the second season the tournament field with an eight-team field hosted at neutral site venue (prior was a four-team tournament played at No.1-seed's venue) and the second season LCU has been eligible to participate in the event. As the No.3-seed, LCU opens facing No.6-seed Newman. The team that goes 3-0 at the tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. More than likely, this season's tournament champion may be the only conference representative in the regional tournament.
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS : If the Lady Chaps defeat Newman, they will improve to 18-10 on the season and will face St. Mary's Saturday at 2:30 p.m. St. Mary's defeated Rogers State 72-65.
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Jets, their season will end with a 17-11 overall mark.
LOOKING BACK AT THEIR LAST CONTEST
The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals overcame a 10-point third quarter deficit and received 30 points from
Tess Bruffey to defeat St. Edward's 84-80 in overtime Saturday afternoon in Heartland Conference action inside Rip Griffin Center. LCU, matching a season-high with four consecutive wins, finished the regular season tied for second place with St. Mary's, as they finished with a 12-4 conference mark (17-10 overall) and a win back of St. Edward's (13-3). The Lady Chaps will head to Tulsa, Okla. as a No.3-seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament and will open play Friday at noon facing Newman.
The game featured nine lead changes and the scored tied on 14 occasions. With 16 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied 66-66, SEU's Bailey Hill put up a shot out of the left wing baseline that hit the backside of the backboard and LCU received the possession. They called a timeout, but on the ensuing inbounds,
Hannah Harbin was unable to get the ball inbounded before a five-second violation was called, giving SEU back the ball. LCU, with only two team fouls, was able to continually foul Shakera Barnes on inbounds plays and SEU was unable to get the best shot off at the horn, although Barnes was nearly able to get a long heave beyond the top of the key to go.
Bailey Haist had seven points for LCU in the overtime frame. She made a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left to put LCU up 82-80. Khiani Clark missed a layup with under 15 seconds remaining, but SEU got the offensive board and they relied on a Hill three-pointer for the lead. The attempt was no good. LCU advanced the ball with a timeout and
Olivia Robertson was fouled. She made both of her attempts for a 84-80 lead and it turned out to be the final score.
The game opened with a see-saw of runs and streaky play. Each team had three runs of runs consisting of at least a 4-0 scoring span involved in the opening half. LCU, who trailed 10-9 at the end of the first quarter, had just traded off a 6-0 run with SEU and went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-19 lead with 3:57 remaining in the second quarter. It was SEU's turn to respond, which they did with a 7-0 run to take a 26-24 lead with 1:33 remaining. They eventually led 29-26 at the half after Lexi Fatheree nailed a three-pointer just prior to the buzzer.
Bruffey led LCU with 14 points in the half and was 5-of-7 from the field. She was carrying most of the offensive workload for LCU in the first half, with
Bobbi Chitsey also assisting. The two were a combined 7-of-11 from the field (63.6%), while the remainder of the Lady Chaps were a combined 2-of-13 (15.4%).
Fatheree, who hit two three-pointers in the final 1:33 of the first half, connected on her third three-pointer of the game with 6:42 left in the third quarter and it capped a 12-3 run to give SEU a 41-31 lead and their largest lead of the game. Over the ensuing 6:17, LCU would gradually outscore the Hilltoppers 21-11 to tie the game at 52-52 in the third quarter. LCU went 4-for-4 on three-point attempts during the run, with Haist, Chitsey, Bruffey and
Caitlyn Cunyus all contributing on the trifectas.
Following the score tied at 52-52, LCU went on a 6-0 run, which had them up 54-52 at the close of the fourth quarter and capped with LCU leading 58-52 50-seconds into the fourth quarter. The 6-0 run was part of a 27-11 scoring surge for LCU, which also included a 16-4 scoring clip for LCU.
LCU led as much as 60-54 with 7:30 remaining, but SEU came back with the play of Shakera Barnes, who tallied three of her eight field goals in the final 5:35 of the fourth quarter. A 6-0 run by SEU tied the game at 60-60 before the teams countered scoring for the remaining 5:35 to force overtime.
Bruffey matched a career high with her second 30-point contest of the season and of the homestand. She was 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. She was joined in double figures by Haist (18 points) and Chitsey (17 points). Haist was 6-of-9 from the field with a career high eight rebounds and matched a career high with four assists. LCU incredibly finished the game shooting 51% (26/51) from the field. They were 14-of-24 (58.3%) in the second half and went 3-of-3 from the field in overtime. LCU was 11-of-14 from the free-throw line in overtime and 1-of-1 from three-point range in the extra frame.
SEU was 38.8% (26/67) from the field, but benefited off a 21-for-21 shooting mark from the free-throw line, which was a single-game record by an LCU opponent. It marks the second time ever a Heartland Conference squad has been perfect from the line with at least 20 attempts. The conference record is 26-of-26 set by Oklahoma Christian (against Texas A&M International (Dec. 31, 2015). Clark led SEU with 20 points. Fatheree and Hill finished with 19 points and Barnes added 18 points to place the Hilltoppers with four players in double figures.
ALL-HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
To kick-off the festivities of the 2017 Heartland Conference Tournament, the Heartland Conference presented their annual women's basketball awards at the tournament social and Lubbock Christian University's
Tess Bruffey (First Team) and
Bailey Haist (Honorable Mention) were each named All-Conference, with Bruffey also claiming the conference's most prestigious honor; Player of the Year.
Bruffey becomes a three-time All-Heartland Conference selection and a two-time First Team member. She was an Honorable Mention recipient as a freshman (2014-15) and also claimed the conference's Freshman of the Year honor. Last season, she was a First Team member. The Lubbock, Texas native marks the second Lady Chaparrals player to ever receive the Heartland Conference Player of the Year honor, joining
Nicole Hampton, who claimed the accolade last season. Bruffey averages 16.1 points (second in the conference), 8.6 rebounds (fourth in the conference) and 3.8 blocks per game (leads the conference and ranks second nationally). The junior inside player averaged 19.4 points per game in conference play and 22.8 points a game in February (also shot 19-of-34 at 55.9% from three-point range during the month). The Heartland Conference's all-time career leader in blocks (258) was a five-time conference Player of the Week recipient and a two-time USBWA Division II Women's Basketball National Player of the Week this season and was also one of four players nationally to record a triple-double in a contest this season.
Haist claims her first All-Conference honor. Haist, who led the conference as a sophomore with a .463 three-point shooting mark, has posted her second season of at least 50 three-pointers. The senior from Colorado Springs, Colo. Has 53 three-pointers this season (fifth in the conference) and is hitting at a mark of 36.1% (third in the conference). She has 144 three-pointers in her three-year LCU career and is shooting 41.0% from downtown. Haist, who ranked third with 34 three-pointers in conference play, is averaging 9.0 points a contest this season.
FUN WHILE IT LASTED
LCU played a light home schedule this season, with only 11 games at Rip Griffin Center. Six of the 11 came in February (three in November and two in January) and LCU finished the regular season 11-0 at home. They improved their nation-leading home win streak to 35 games, while also winning their 42nd consecutive conference home game and improving to 36-0 all-time at home in Heartland Conference play.
NO-BO
One of the darkest days of the 2016-17 Lady Chaps season occurred in late January as
Allison Szabo suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice. At the time of her injury, she was one of two Lady Chaps that had started in every game and was co-leading the team in rebounds. Despite the valuable loss on the hardwood, LCU has gone 7-2 in her absence.
RANKINGS UPDATE
The NCAA released their third 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 Angelo State
3 West Texas A&M
4 Eastern New Mexico
5 Regis (Colorado)
6 Colorado-Colorado Springs
7 St. Mary's (Texas)
8 Texas A&M-Commerce
9 Colorado Mesa
10 Fort Lewis
GOT CLASS
Saturday was Senior Day and the final Rip Griffin Center appearance for five Lady Chaps seniors (four that were active to play, as Szabo was injured).
Claire Bruffey,
Allea Harris,
Bailey Haist and
Hannah Harbin played in their final game inside Rip Griffin Center. A remarkable senior class for their accomplishments with the Lady Chaps. Harbin and Szabo were the only members that spent all four seasons with the Lady Chaps and they produced a 51-2 home record over their four seasons, going 36-0 at home in conference play. All five players are have received academic accolades and all five members were part of LCU's 2016-2017 NCAA Division II National Championship squad.
D-FENCE
LCU's defense ranks fifth nationally, holding the opposition to a 33.4% shooting mark, despite ranking 208th nationally in three-point shooting defense (32.8%). LCU has allowed 166 three-pointers this season, but inside the arc, their defense has held opponents to a 33.6% shooting mark.
MAGIC NUMBER
LCU overtook the conference lead in three-point shooting, closing their final eight regular season games with 75 three-pointers, for a rate of 9.4 per game. LCU leads the conference and is 38th nationally in three-point field goals (210) and three-point field goals per game (7.8). They rank 38th despite not have one individual in the top-125 in three-point field goals per game.
BLOCKING THINGS OUT
LCU, who led NCAA in blocks last season, ranks third the NCAA this season in blocks per game (5.7) and is sixth in total blocks (155).
Tess Bruffey ranks second nationally in blocks per game (3.8) and is second in total blocks (94). Each block Bruffey garners adds to her career totals (258), which are program and Heartland Conference career records.
PARTY LIKE ITS 2017
Tess Bruffey has posted at least 14 points in 14 of the 15 games LCU played in 2017 (at least 18 points in last seven games played). She averaged 17.7 points a game in January and averaged 22.8 points a game in February. Bruffey went 19-of-34 (55.9%) from three-point range in February (she was 10-of-48, 20.8%, prior to the February stretch).
Hannah Harbin had a hot February as well, averaging 11.5 points per game and went 53.2% from the field and 78.3% (18/23) from the free-throw line.
HEARTLAND HISTORY
LCU is 3-0 all-time in Heartland Conference Tournament play, with all wins coming in the 2016 edition of the tournament, which marked LCU's first season with Heartland Conference postseason eligibility.
Tess Bruffey is the only Lady Chap returning that placed on last season's All-Tournament. Bruffey averaged 13.7 points a contest in Tulsa last season.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NU
• The Jets completed the regular season with a 19-9 record and went 9-7 in Heartland Conference play. They closed the season going 6-1 in their final seven games, with the one loss coming to LCU on Feb. 16 in Lubbock. Hannah Alexander earned one of five spots on the HC All-Conference First Team and claimed the league's Newcomer of the Year award, while forward Mali Wright was named to the Second Team.
• The Heartland Conference preseason picked Newman to finish tied for sixth in the conference.
• The Jets had three of the top 11 scorers in the Heartland Conference with Hannah Alexander, Bria DeGrate and Mali Wright. Alexander was seventh, DeGrate in ninth and Wright finished at 11th. When it comes to conference games only Alexander and Wright bumped up to fourth and sixth place respectively.
• The Jets are 5-5 this season in games decided by single digits, yet they lead the Heartland Conference in scoring margin (12.0), as they are 14-4 in games decided by at least 10 points.
• Newman leads the conference in 44.2% shooting from the field (28th nationally).
THE SERIES AGAINST NU
The two programs have met eight times and all as Heartland Conference foes. LCU leads the all-time series 6-2. Newman ended a three-game series losing streak against LCU with 61-60 win over LCU on Jan. 30 in Wichita. LCU rebounded to even the season series with a 60-55 win in Lubbock on Feb. 16. This will mark their first meeting in the HC Tournament.
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. NU
Feb. 16, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU :60 - NU:55
Lubbock Christian University had to garner their first win of the season when trailing at half to push their nation-leading home win streak to 32 games, and they also used a double-double consisting of 30 points and 11 rebounds from
Tess Bruffey to defeat Newman University 60-55 in a Heartland Conference contest featuring 11 lead changes inside Rip Griffin Center Thursday evening.
LCU trailed most of the first half, but in the opening quarter each team had a share of the lead, with neither team leading by more than four points. Newman opened the game 1-of-6 from the field, but closed the quarter 6-of-8 from the field. Included in the mix was a steal and layup at the buzzer by Iva Krstevska, which not only put Newman up 15-14, but marked the first ever time LCU trailed at home at a quarter's conclusion since NCAA women's basketball adopted the four-quarter play at the start of the 2015-2016 season (96 consecutive quarters). Hannah Alexander opened the second quarter with a jumper for Newman to cap a 6-0 run and the Jets led 17-14. Bruffey answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 17-17. Newman would score 12 of the next 16 points and took their largest lead of the game (29-21) with 2:45 remaining in the half. LCU rallied over the final 2:45 with a 7-0 run, which included a three-pointer from
Hannah Harbin to trail 29-28 at the half.
It was a battle between Bruffey and Newman's Mali Wright in the opening half. Wright was 7-of-13 from the field in the half for 14 points, while Bruffey had 16 points in the half (nine points from beyond the arc). LCU was 10-of-27 from the field (37%), with five three-point field goals and five buckets inside the arc. LCU was 50% (5/10) from three-point range, but 5-of-17 (29.4%) inside the arc. Bruffey struggled to a 2-of-9 shooting stretch inside the arc during the half (she was 3-for-4 in the half from long range).
LCU, entering the contest 0-10 when trailing at the half, built off their 7-0 run with a basket by Bruffey to close the run at 9-0. It gave LCU a 30-29 lead. The lead alternated until
Claire Bruffey drove in and converted a layup into a three-point play to put LCU up 35-33 with 3:26 left in the third quarter.
Claire Bruffey would end up hitting a three-pointer from the right corner later in the quarter and LCU took a 41-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
Bailey Haist nailed a trio of three-pointers in the game, with a pair coming in the fourth quarter. One was part of a 9-0 run, which had LCU leading 48-38 with 7:58 remaining. The Jets crawled back in and benefited off seven points in the quarter from Alexander and a 9-3 run to cut LCU's lead to 55-53 with 2:25 to go. Newman cut the LCU lead to 56-55 (54 seconds remaining), but LCU, who was a miserable 12-of-24 (50%) from the free-throw line, went 7-of-10 (70%) in the final quarter and scored five of them over the final 1:42 of the game to hold off the Jets in the closing moments. Newman was 0-of-2 from the field, with two turnovers over the final 2:58. Newman's final field goal came with 2:59 remaining and LCU's final field goal was tallied with 3:19 left.
Tess Bruffey's 30 points was a career high and marks the first 30-point performance by a Lady Chaps member since
Nicole Hampton had 31 points at Rogers State on Dec. 7, 2013. It was the most scored inside Rip Griffin Center by a Lady Chaps member since Kelsey Canavan scored 30 against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Feb. 25, 2012. Bruffey was 9-of-23 from the field (3-of-5 from three-point range) and the 23 shot attempts at home marks a new Rip Griffin Center record for field goal attempts. Her double-double was her eighth of the season.
LCU was 37.7% from the field (20/53) in the game, while Newman was 41.5% from the field. It marks the fifth time this season LCU has been outshot by the opposition and the first time in which LCU has won (1-4). LCU was 8-of-18 (44.4%) from long distance, with Bruffey and Haist each hitting a trio of treys. Newman connected on just one three-pointer (1-of-7, 14.3%) in the game. LCU out-rebounded Newman 36-33 and forced Newman into 17 rebounds (12 turnovers against LCU). Bruffey was LCU's only player in double figures, while Wright finished with 20 points and Alexander notched 10 points for Newman.
