FORT SMITH, Ark. (January 27, 1018) – Tess Bruffey was 7-of-9 shooting inside the arc to spearhead a Lubbock Christian University squad that was 64.7% (22/34) inside the perimeter, and her 21-point performance led the No.2 Lady Chaparrals to a 62-54 Heartland Conference road victory over Arkansas – Fort Smith Saturday afternoon inside Stubblefield Center.
 
For a second consecutive road game, LCU was 50% from the field in the game. They were 24-of-48 as a squad, with 22 of the 24 field goals tallied inside the arc. Bruffey and Caitlyn Cunyus (4-of-6) combined to go 11-of-15 (73.3%) inside the arc.
 
The Lady Chaps hot hand started off the contest. LCU hit their first three shot attempts and completed the quarter 8-of-11 from the field (7-of-9 inside the arc).  The stat line is misleading in regards to the type of quarter is was, as there were five lead changes in the quarter. UAFS twice led by three points, including a 14-11 lead with 3:27 remaining, but LCU responded with an 8-0 run. LCU led 19-16 at the close of the quarter, led by nine points in the quarter from Bruffey.
 
Cunyus nailed a three-pointer in the opening minute of the second quarter and Bruffey converted on a feed from Allie Schulte to give LCU a 24-18 lead, but it did not hold up. Ellie Lehne tallied five straight points and sparked a 7-0 Lady Lions run to help UAFS regain the lead at 25-24. There would be four lead changes in the second quarter, and a field goal by Cunyus with 1:21 left in the half helped LCU end the half on a 6-0 run for a 36-29 lead. Bruffey was 5-of-7 from the field in the first half (4-of-5 inside the arc) and led LCU in the half with 13 points.  
 
LCU, 16-of-26 (61.5%) from the field and 14-of-20 (70%) inside the arc in the first half, would not have the same success shooting from the field in the second half. They were 8-of-22 (36.4%) from the field in the second half. For the opening 3:40 of the third quarter, LCU was 0-of-3 from the field with three turnovers tossed into the mix. The disarray allowed UAFS to go on a 7-0 run, with a three-pointer by Tamara Gulley tying the game up 36-36. The score was tied on two occasions in the quarter before Cunyus had two of her six points in the half to ignite an 8-0 run for a 44-36 advantage. LCU led 47-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Chaps built the lead to 51-42 with 7:26 remaining in the game, but UAFS was not done with making a final charge. Micayla Haynes hit a three pointer to cap a 5-0 run in a span of 1:25 to cut LCU's lead to 51-47. Delaney Gaddis, with her third career double-figure outing (11 points to match a season high), converted on one of her two old-fashioned three-point plays in the contest to help LCU go on a 9-0 run and build a 60-47 lead as 1:09 remained.
 
Bruffey's 21 points led all scorers and she was one of three Lady Chaps in double figures. Cunyus, who had 20 points in the prior contest against UAFS, finished with 16 points to join Bruffey and Gaddis in double figures. Bruffey led LCU with eight rebounds and moved past Carol Hise (732, 1990-1994) into fourth place on LCU's career rebounds list (739). UAFS led LCU in points off turnovers (13-9) and in second chance points (9-2). They were led by Tayla Taylor, who registered 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double performance. The Lady Lions were 22-of-64 (34.4%) from the field. LCU outscored UAFS 12-6 in points from the free-throw line.
 
LCU improved to 19-1 with the win and they remain unbeaten (8-0) in Heartland action. The win was their 13^th consecutive win. UAFS had their nine-game win streak snapped and fell to 14-7 overall (7-2 in conference).
 
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
LCU had to fight off several Lady Lion rallies, but Gaddis' three-point play with 3:47 left was vital on putting a halt to UAFS's comeback thoughts. It ended the Lady Lions 5-0 run and started a 9-0 run. Bruffey also had three points during the run. LCU was 3-of-4 from the field during the 9-0 run. They were 1-of-7 from the field outside of the run in the quarter.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
While LCU was hit inside the arc, they were the opposite from long range. LCU was 2-of-14 from three-point range. The two three-pointers matched a season low and their 14.3% shooting percentage from outside was a season low. It was their worst three-point shooting mark since Feb. 16, 2017, as they were 1-of-7 (14.3%) at Newman.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU is halfway through their four-game road trip. Knocking out their northern and eastern-most contests, the Lady Chaps will now head south to San Antonio, Texas Thursday to face St. Mary's before their southern-most stop Saturday in Laredo, Texas to battle Texas A&M International.