HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT - SEMIFINALS
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (18-10, 12-4, No.3 Seed) vs. ST. MARY'S (21-6, 12-4, No.2 Seed)
Saturday, March 4, 2017 - 2:30 p.m.
Union Multipurpose Activities Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
Radio: KJTV am950/100.7fm
All-Time Series: LCU leads 10-3
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THIS IS DIFFERENT
After four games all-time at the Heartland Conference Tournament, Lubbock Christian University finds themselves as the "underdog" for the first time ever. The No.3-seed Lady Chaparrals defeated Newman 63-57 Friday to advance to the Semifinals Saturday to square off with No.2 St. Mary's, who defeated Rogers State Thursday.
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS : If the Lady Chaps defeat the Rattlers, they will improve to 19-10 on the season and will advance to Sunday's tournament championship game at noon to face the winner of the Semifinal contest that pits Arkansas Fort Smith against St. Edward's.
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Rattlers, their season will end with a 18-11 overall mark.
LOOKING BACK AT THEIR LAST CONTEST
The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals overcame a Bobby Chitsey led four Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals in double figures with 15 points and
Tess Bruffey registered her 10th double-double of the season (12 points, 10 rebounds) to lead the No.3-seeded Lady Chaps to a 63-57 victory over No.6-seed Newman in the Quarterfinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament at John Q. Hammons Arena (UMAC).
The teams combined for half of the game's scoring in the fourth quarter, with the team's combining for 60 points through the first three quarters and 60 points in the final quarter. Each squad offensively from the field to start off the contest. Newman was held to 10 field goals through the first three quarters, but LCU was unable to build a lead with 13 field goals during the same stretch.
Following the opening bucket by Newman, LCU responded with a 5-0 run and never relinquished the lead. Despite having the lead the rest of the way, LCU was unable to build more than a six-point lead until 1:27 remained in the third quarter. LCU led 12-8 following the opening quarter and led 23-19 at the half, with Chitsey leading the Lady Chaps with 8 points. Each team had eight field goals in the first half, with the teams combining for 15 of their 16 field goals inside the arc. LCU's
Bailey Haist had the game's only three-pointer in the opening half, as the LCU as 1-of-10 and NU was 0-of-8 from long range in the half.
The game was locked at 23-19 for a span of 5:12 and the two baskets that bookended the game's drought was by LCU's
Olivia Robertson. Newman was as close as 28-25 (2:44 left in the third quarter) before Robertson struck again with a three-pointer to jumpstart a 9-0 run, which was part of a 13-3 LCU run to give them a 41-28 lead with 7:56 remaining. Iva Krstevska had 11 points for NU in the fourth quarter and a three-pointer with 1:34 remaining cut LCU's lead to 54-49, but it was as close as they get.
Each team was 54.5% from the field in the final quarter and Newman outscored LCU 32-28 in the quarter. LCU finished the game with 22 points from the free-throw line, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter.
LCU finished the game 36.5% (19/52) from the field, while Newman was 35.5% (22/62). The teams combined for 27 turnovers (15 by Newman), but Newman outscored LCU 6-5 in points off turnovers. LCU had a 32-20 scoring advantage in the point. The two teams struggled from the perimeter, with LCU going 3-of-19 (15.8%) and Newman going 4-of-19 21.1%.
Chitsey led LCU with 15 points, scoring seven of her points from the line. She was joined in double figures by Bruffey, Robertson and
Hannah Harbin, as each had 12 points. Bruffey registered seven blocks and was three blocks away from recording her second triple-double of the season. Newman, whose season closes with a 19-10 mark, received a game-high 16 points from All-Conference selection Hannah Alexander. She was a rebound shy of a double-double, but teammate Mali Wright did complete the double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. NU also received 11 points from Krstevska and 10 points Natalia Hausmann.
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 8-2 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
This past 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 33.5% shooting mark, despite ranking 208th nationally in three-point shooting defense (32.4%). LCU has allowed 170 three-pointers this season, but inside the arc, their defense has held opponents to a 34.0% 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 (213) and three-point field goals per game (7.6). They rank 38th despite not have one individual in the top-125 in three-point field goals per game. Tulsa has not been kind to LCU from outside, as all-time inside UMAC, LCU shoots 25.3% from three-point range (19/75 for a rate of 4.8 per game).
BLOCKING THINGS OUT
LCU, who led NCAA in blocks last season, ranks third the NCAA this season in blocks per game (5.8) and is sixth in total blocks (162).
Tess Bruffey ranks second nationally in blocks per game (3.9) and is second in total blocks (101). Each block Bruffey garners adds to her career totals (258), which are program and Heartland Conference career records. She is 12 shy from the LCU single-season record.
PARTY LIKE ITS 2017
Tess Bruffey posted at least 14 points in 14 of the final 15 regular season games LCU played (had 18 points in the last seven regular season 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 4-0 all-time in Heartland Conference Tournament play, with three of the 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 StMU
• The Rattlers completed the regular season with a 20-6 record and went 12-4 in Heartland Conference play. They are on a two-game win streak. LaBraile Fields was named the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Tyra Cormier received the Heartland Conference Co-Freshman of the Year and Kiara Etheridge and Arysia Porter were each All-Conference selections.
• The Heartland preseason picked StMU to finish fourth in the conference. They went 11-7 in conference play last season.
• StMU arrives into the Semifinals following a 72-65 win over Rogers State. Arysia Porter and LaBraile Fields each tallied 23 points.
• The Rattlers rank 28th nationally in three-point defense, holding opponents to a 27.7% shooting mark from downtown.
• Etheridge finished the regular season ranking 26th in NCAA Div. II in rebounds per game (10.1), ranking sixth nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8). She also ranks 15th with 14 double-doubles.
THE SERIES AGAINST StMU
LCU leads the all-times series 10-3 over StMU. LCU is 7-2 against the Rattlers since joining the Heartland. The two teams split the regular season series, with the home team winning each contest. Last season, the Lady Chaps and Rattlers met in the conference tournament Semifinals and LCU was victorious 63-42, with 20 points from
Tess Bruffey.
PREVIOUS RECAP VS. StMU
Feb. 4, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas) - LCU :70 - StMU:56
Tess Bruffey notched the third triple-double in program history and her 21-point and 13-rebound performance included a program and Heartland Conference single-game record 10 blocks to lead Lubbock Christian University to a 70-56 home victory over St. Mary's University. The 10 blocks marks the third time Bruffey has produced the feat (no other player has in program and conference history), but the first time she has done it inside Rip Griffin Center, which sets the arena record.
Bruffey became the only player this season in Division II basketball with two 10-block games. The 10 blocks in a game is a program and a Heartland Conference record, and it is the third time she has reached the feat in her career. The last was on Nov. 26, 2016 in Puerto Rico against Lenoir-Rhyne.
As for the triple-double, it is her first of her career and the third one recorded in program history.
Nicole Hampton achieved the prior two, with the prior completion coming Jan. 25, 2014 at Oklahoma Panhandle State. Bruffey's accomplishment Saturday marked the first triple-double inside Rip Griffin Center. In addition, her triple-double marks the 12th one accomplished in NCAA Division II play this season.
LCU outscored StMU by seven points in three of the four quarters Saturday, never trailing in the game. The Lady Chaps balanced out the outside shooting in the opening quarter, with
Bailey Haist,
Claire Bruffey,
Hannah Harbin and
Tess Bruffey combining to go 4-for-6 from three-point range in the quarter. Tess led LCU with seven points in the quarter, with her three-pointer in the quarter coming in a 6-0 run to take a 20-11 lead in the final 10 seconds of the quarter. StMU's Arysia Porter hit a jumper to close the quarter with LCU leading 20-13.
StMU cut LCU's lead to 24-23 on a LaBraile Fields jumper with 5:08 left in the half, but LCU responded with a 15-2 run to close the half. Harbin highlighted the run with a pair of three-pointers and had 13 points in the first half to give LCU a 39-25 halftime lead.
The run would be carried over to the second half to a 17-2 run (in total), with Bruffey scoring in the paint for a 41-25 LCU lead. An 8-0 run by the Rattlers allowed them to rush back into the game, and back-to-back three-pointers by Kiara Etheridge allowed the Rattlers to cut LCU's lead to 49-45 late in the third quarter.
Olivia Robertson prevented StMU from ending the quarter with momentum, as she nailed a three-pointer inside the final minute to give LCU a 52-45 lead to take into the fourth quarter.
Sierra Dixon opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to get within four points, but again LCU had a response. The Lady Chaps responded with a Haist three-pointer and went on a 9-2 run. The "2" during the run for StMU was a layup from Porter with 7:43 remaining and the Rattlers final field goal of the game.
Bruffey had eight points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a game high 21 points to lead all players. She was 8-of-17 from the field and racked up 13 rebounds as well. Harbin also finished in double figures as well with 16 points. She was 3-of-3 from three-point range (three three-pointers was a career high). LCU, coming off Thursday's program-record-matching three-point shooting barrage, had 11 three-pointers Saturday and went 11-of-23 (47.8%) from downtown. Overall, LCU was 47.2% (25/53) from the field and outscored StMU 20-8 in the paint and 23-17 off turnovers. StMU was 2-of-7 shooting in the fourth quarter and finished 35.1% (20/57) from the field. They were 11-of-36 (30.5%) inside the arc and 9-of-21 (42.9%) beyond the arc. Porter led the Rattlers with 20 points and eight rebounds. They also received 16 points from Fields and 13 from Etheridge.
