TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL (2-13, 0-1)
at No.3/5 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (12-1, 1-0)
Thursday, January 4, 2018 - 6 p.m.                                        
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: 100.7 The Score    
All-Time Series: LCU Leads 9-1
 
ALL THE HEART-LAND
No.3/5 Lubbock Christian University plays their remaining 13 regular season games in Heartland Conference action, continuing their conference play Thursday hosting Texas A&M International Thursday (6 p.m.) and St. Mary's Saturday (1 p.m.). The Lady Chaps, who played their first conference game on Dec. 2 (67-62 win over Arkansas - Fort Smith), plays five of their first six conference games at home before playing six of their final eight on the road. LCU (1-0) and Newman (2-0) are the only unbeaten teams in conference play.   
 
SATURDAY SUMMARY
Despite five points from the field in the second half and their worst shooting performance in over six years, No. 4 Lubbock Christian University was able to get 19 points from Tess Bruffey and a season high 15 points from Olivia Robertson en route to a 64-55 nonconference road victory over Eastern New Mexico Saturday afternoon inside Greyhound Arena.
 
LCU scored more points from the free-throw line (34) than from the field (30) in the contest.  The last time that happened was Nov. 5, 2011 against Metropolitan State at Rip Griffin Center. Saturday, LCU was held to a 13 field goals and a mark of 28.9% (13/45) shooting from the field, which are their lowest marks since nine field goals and a 20.9% shooting mark in that same Metro State contest in their 2011-2012 season opener. The difference was LCU lost to Metro State and won Saturday's contest. Despite the shooting lull, LCU out-shot ENMU, holding the Greyhounds to a 28.4% (19/67) shooting mark. LCU was able to right the ship with 34 points from the free-throw line off a 34-of-42 shooting mark from the charity stripe (81.0%). The 34 points from the line was the most by LCU since they made 35 free-throws on Jan. 19, 2012 against Rogers State. LCU was also able to keep their turnovers down, as they finished with 10 turnovers (second fewest in a game this season).
 
The Greyhounds were nearly able to overcome their shooting woes because of 18 offensive rebounds, which led to a 20-5 advantage in second-chance-scoring. The 20 second-chance-points is the highest allowed this season by LCU and the most since Arkansas – Fort Smith tallied 21 on Feb. 11, 2017. The offensive boards also led to ENMU attempting 22 more shot attempts. It is the second time an LCU opponent has had at least 20 more shot attempts than LCU, as Midwestern State had 27 more shot attempts, due to 26 offensive rebounds, on Nov. 25.
 
The poor shooting was not around in the opening quarter for LCU. LCU shot 45.5% (5-of-11) in the opening quarter. The two teams exchanged the lead six times in the opening quarter before LCU went on a 15-4 run during a 10-minute stretch three minutes into the game, which carried into the second quarter. ENMU went on an 0-for-16 shooting slump during the stretch.
 
After the 15-4 run, LCU closed out the game's remainder going 5-of-30 (16.7 %) from the field. Leading as much as 15 points (35-20) in the opening half, LCU led 35-22 before the shooting woes were magnified in the third quarter. LCU was 1-of-7 from the field in the third quarter. Their only field goal was a three-pointer by Bruffey. It was their fewest amount of field goals in a quarter since held to one field goal in the fourth quarter against Colorado State – Pueblo (1-of-12) on Nov. 10. ENMU was able to cut LCU's lead to three points on two occasions in the second half, but LCU's 22 points from the free-throw line in the second half, off 22-of-28 shooting, allowed them to keep their distance. ENMU had a stretch in which they were 1-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter, as LCU's defense did their part to counter their lackluster shooting effort.
 
Bruffey missed a double-double by a rebound, as she finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Nine of her 19 points came from the line. Robertson was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in her double-figure point performance. Mikaehla Connor led ENMU with 15 points and Daeshi McCants finished with 10 rebounds.
 
LCU improved to 13-24 all-time against ENMU, claiming their fifth straight win over the Greyhounds (LCU has won 10 of the last 12 meetings).
 
MARGINALIZE
LCU ranks 21st nationally with a conference leading scoring margin of 18.5 points per game margin in outscoring their opponents. The Lady Chaps margin has decreased recently, as they have had single-digit victories in three of their last six games. They only had one single-digit win of their opening six wins.  In their current six-game win streak, LCU has trailed in four of those contests, but their largest deficit has not exceeded four points and each of their largest deficits in those contests have been in the opening quarter. They were able to rebound in each of those games and have not trailed after a quarter of play in any of their games during the current six-game win streak.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
New national rankings came out Wednesday afternoon, and the Lady Chaparrals moved from No.4 in both the D2SIDA's Top-25 Poll and the WBCA's Top-25 Poll (Coaches Poll) for NCAA Division II women's basketball. They improved to No.3 in the D2SIDA poll, while dropping to No.5 in the WBCA poll. They are the top team in the polls of teams that have suffered a loss. The No.3 ranking marks their best ranking this season in the D2SIDA poll.
 
CALENDAR CHECK
Saturday's contest (at ENMU) marked LCU's final game of the 2017 calendar year. Their win over ENMU provided the Lady Chaps with a 26-5 record (83.9%) for all games played in 2017. LCU went 29-10 (74.4%) in 2016 and 24-4 (85.7%) in 2015.
 
PERIMETER PLAY
On the offensive side, LCU ranks 42nd nationally with 98 three-pointers made on the season. Tess Bruffey leads the team with 25 three-pointers, with Caitlyn Cunyus right behind her with 22. LCU's three-point shooting percentage ranks sixth nationally at 39.8%. On the defensive side, LCU leads the Heartland Conference holding opponents to a 26.7% shooting percentage from long range.
 
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES
LCU leads the Heartland Conference and ranks 10th nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 47.2% from the field.  They also lead the nation in field goal defense, holding the opposition to 31.6% shooting on the season. Their allowance of 53.9 points per game ranks 11th in the nation.
 
BLOCKING IT OUT
Tess Bruffey, who ranked second nationally last season in blocks per game (3.9), leads the nation with 58 blocks on the season. Her 58 blocks come at a rate of 4.5 per game (leads nationally) and she has more blocks than all but 25 NCAA Div. II teams. The Lady Chaps, as a team, leads the nation with 92 blocks. Bruffey has six double-doubles on the season as well ranks tied for 13th nationally in the category. In her career, Bruffey has a program and conference record 330 blocks, marking her as the NCAA Div. II's active career leader (third among all levels). She also ranks on the NCAA Div. II's active career leader charts in points (1,429, 13th), field goals (526, eighth) and double-doubles (20, 15th).  
 
WHAT IS ON THE LINE?
LCU became the 17th team in NCAA Division II Women's Basketball to win 40 consecutive home games with their win over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 7 (it actively leads NCAA Div. II).  If LCU extends the streak to 42 (currently at 41), they will match Arkansas Tech for 16th place on the all-time list for consecutive home wins in NCAA Division II history.  The record is 87 consecutive home victories by Nebraska-Kearney, who completed the task from Jan. 31, 1995 - Nov. 24, 2001. LCU's last home loss came on Jan. 1, 2015 against Oklahoma City University. LCU has also won 43 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring Jan. 10, 2013 (against Oklahoma City). They are 37-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TAMIU
• The Dustdevils are 2-13 on the season and 0-1 in conference play this season. They are seeking their first road win (0-9) and have lost 21 consecutive road games.
• The Heartland Conference Preseason Poll selected TAMIU to finish seventh. They are currently 0-1 this season in conference play following a 69-51 loss at home to St. Mary's on Dec. 9.
• The 'Devils rank 36th nationally and lead the Heartland in steals with 122. Passionate Amukamara leads the squad and is second in the conference with 28 steals.
• There is no time to rest for TAMIU's Tantashea Giger, who ranks third nationally in minutes played with 496 played this season (rate of 33 minutes per game).
• Giger utilizes her playing time as well, ranking second nationally in field goal attempts with 237 (15.8 per game).
 
THE SERIES AGAINST TAMIU
LCU leads the all-times series 9-1 against TAMIU. The Lady Chaps won the first five and the prior four series meetings. Their prior meeting, which was in Lubbock, Texas, resulted in a 84-49 LCU win on Feb. 2, 2017. LCU is 7-1 against TAMIU since joining the Heartland Conference and 4-0 in Lubbock in that span.
 
PRIOR MEETING VS. TAMIU
Feb. 2, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas): LCU 84 - TAMIU 49
Claire Bruffey recorded a career high 22 points and Tess Bruffey provided 17 points, as the sisters combined for 39 points and helped Lubbock Christian University knock down a season high 16 three-pointers (one shy of matching a program record) in an 84-49 win over Texas A&M International Thursday evening. The contest was part of the NCAA Div.II Basketball Showcase, as the Heartland Conference game was carried nationally on American Sports Network and the first ever nationally televised event inside Rip Griffin Center.
 
LCU produced 51 points from their bench, with four players coming off the bench to set career highs in points. Claire Bruffey, whose prior career high was nine points, had 16 points in the first half. She was 5-of-7 from long range to start the game and finished 7-of-12, coming up one three-pointer short of matching the program single-game record. Toss in her sister Tess's long distance shooting (2-of-3) and the sisters were a combined 9-of-15 from downtown.
 
Tess had the upper hand in the opening quarter, connecting on a pair of three-pointers and knocking down four field goals for 10 points in the quarter. LCU was 9-of-14 from the field in the quarter and closed the quarter on a 17-2 run to take a 24-14 lead.
 
The sisters would have 28 combined points at the half and accounted for 10 of the team's 15 field goals in the half. LCU had an 18-15 scoring advantage in the second quarter for a 42-29 halftime lead.
 
LCU pulled away in the second half, as 10 different Lady Chaps had a point in the second half. The Lady Chaps shot 57.1% (8/14) in the third quarter. They used an 11-2 run to outscore the Dustdevils 18-7 in the quarter and took an 84-49 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
Caitlyn Buttram and Kambry Blakey came off the bench to score six points apiece in the fourth quarter, and they were part of a 57.1% (8/14) shooting performance in the quarter for LCU. Buttram was 2-of-3 from three-point range in the quarter. LCU's bench posted 24 points in the fourth quarter and LCU led as much as 82-43 prior to the final horn.
 
The Lady Chaps had at least three three-pointers in each quarter and finished with 16 three-pointers. The program single game record stands as 17, set Dec.10, 2015 against Oklahoma City. They were 47.1% from long range with a 16-of-34 performance from behind the arc.
 
Overall, LCU was 48.4% (30/62) from the field, with 16 three-pointers and 14 field goals for two points. Eleven of LCU's 12 players that touched the floor figured into the offense. Claire Bruffey (22 points), Blakey (six points), Buttram (six points) each set a career high in scoring and Abby Morris matched a career high with three points. Allea Harris and Claire each set career highs in rebounds and co-led LCU with six rebounds. Claire and Tess were the only Lady Chaps in double figures.
 
TAMIU finished the contest 38.8% (19/49) from the field. They were outscored 42-20 in the second half. LCU out-rebounded TAMIU 42-23. Nayiri Aslanian led TAMIU with 20 points, connecting on four three-pointers.