No.2 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (23-1, 12-0)
at OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (8-15, 4-7)
Saturday, February 17, 2018 - 1 p.m.
The Eagles' Nest (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Radio: Online Only
All-Time Series: OC Leads 29-24
Tweet #LCUvsOC | Tweet #HeartlandWBB
 
BACK ON THE HIGHWAY
No.2 Lubbock Christian University hits the road for their final two regular season contests, starting with a Saturday tilt in Oklahoma City, Okla. against Oklahoma Christian University. LCU, riding a 17-game win streak, aims towards continuing their perfect play in Heartland Conference play.  The conference regular season champions are 12-0 in Heartland Conference action and facing an Oklahoma Christian squad that is avoiding a fall from fifth in the conference. Fifth place is the best OC can finish in the standings, as they are 4-7 in conference and they have three conference games remaining. They can fall as far as seventh place.
 
LOOK AT THEIR LAST GAME
Sisters Maddi (19 points) and Bobbi Chitsey combined for 32 points and No.2 Lubbock Christian University set a program record from the free-throw line en route to a 70-56 win over Newman on Senior Night inside Rip Griffin Center. The win secured sole possession of their third Heartland Conference regular season title, and extended their NCAA Division II active leading home win streak to 47 games (49 straight conference home wins, including 43-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games).
 
LCU set a single-game program record, going 22-of-22 from the free-throw line (100%). The mark, which is the best by a NCAA Division II program this season (best since Bemidji State went 27-of-27 on Feb. 18, 2017), is the second best performance from the line by a Heartland Conference team. The conference record is 26-of-26, held by Oklahoma Christian (Dec. 31, 2015). The Lady Chaps record mark topped the previous mark of 18-of-18, which was completed against Hardin-Simmons on Jan. 31, 1985. Newman was near perfect from the line as well, as they went 94.1% from the line with a 16-of-17 performance. Combining the two performances, the squads were a combined 38-of-39 (97.4%) from the line.
 
The Lady Chaps wasted no time jumping out on the Jets, and they produced the offensive fireworks without a point in the opening quarter from leading scorer Tess Bruffey. LCU opened the game on a 14-0 run, with the Chitsey sisters producing much of the offensive work. The sisters combined for 12 points in the opening quarter (seven by Maddi Chitsey). Olivia Robertson, with five points in the quarter, hit a three-pointer to cap the 14-0 run. Newman was plagued by turnovers in the opening quarter, with five occurring in the first five minutes of the game. The Jets did not score their first points until Hannah Alexander hit a field goal with 4:26 left in the quarter. Alexander had the Jets first eight points of the game, including a 6-0 run by herself, which cut the LCU lead to 14-6. They led 19-11 at the close of the first quarter.
 
Nia Roberts, the only other Jet to score a point in the first half, opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to cut LCU's lead to 19-14, but it was as close as they would get for the game's remainder. LCU's Kailin Davis answered with a three-pointer and jumpstarted an 11-0 run. LCU shot 54.5% (6/11) in the quarter and Bruffey jumped into the mix with six points to help LCU take a 38-24 halftime lead. Alexander had 16 points at the half, with Newman's other eight points in the half coming from Roberts. Each Chitsey had nine points to lead LCU at the break.
 
The second half was a balanced half. Newman cut LCU's lead down to 10 on three occasions, but never cut it into single digits. Meanwhile, LCU never led by more than 18 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the fourth quarter.
 
LCU outscored Newman 21-12 in points off turnovers. Maddi Chitsey led LCU with 19 points, with 10 coming in the second half. Bobbi provided 13 points and was joined in double figures by Olivia Robertson (11 points) and Delaney Gaddis (11 points, matching season high). Alexander led all scorers with 25 points, which was the second most against the Lady Chaps this season by an opposing player. She was 11-of-20 from the field. Bria DeGrate added 11 points for the Jets. LCU was 39.6% (21/53) from the field, which was a season low at home and their worst shooting mark at home since shooting 37.7% against Newman on Feb. 16, 2017.
 
The game marked the final regular season home games for LCU seniors Bruffey, Gaddis and Caitlyn Buttram. The Lady Chaps swept the season series over Newman and improved to 23-1 overall and 12-0 in conference with the win. Newman fell to 17-10 overall and 8-5 in Heartland play.
 
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE
The Heartland Conference regular season title they claimed is LCU's fifth conference title in program history and the third in the Heartland Conference. LCU will finish in first place for a fourth time since joining the Heartland Conference (LCU was unable to claim the regular season title in 2014-15 due to transitioning to NCAA Division II membership status). They will also carry the No.1-seed at the Heartland Conference Tournament in Tulsa, Okla.     
 
MARGINS
LCU leads the Heartland Conference in is rebounding margin (32nd nationally), with an average of 6.6 more rebounds per game over their opposition, and they rank sixth nationally in scoring margin (average a win margin of 20.6 points per game).
 
THAT'S FOUL
LCU moved into seventh nationally in fouls per game with a low of 14.1 fouls per contest. The fouls have led to LCU having a 14.9 - 9.5 scoring advantage over their opponents from the free-throw line (15.3 - 8.2 advantage in conference games). Tess Bruffey leads LCU averaging 3.6 points per game from the free-throw line.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST
In LCU's 23 wins, they have faced deficits in 12 of them and their largest deficits in all 12 occasions have come in the first quarter. Despite the stat, LCU has not trailed at the end of the first quarter in any of their 23 wins.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Updated national rankings came out Tuesday afternoon, and the Lady Chaparrals remained at No.2 in both the D2SIDA and WBCA NCAA Div. II Women's Basketball Top-25 Poll for a fourth consecutive week. The only team they are behind is No.1 Ashland, who is the only team to defeat LCU this season. The No.2 ranking matches their best ranking this season in each poll.
 
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES
LCU leads the Heartland Conference and ranks eighth nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 47.0% from the field. They have shot at least 50% 10 times this season. Their allowance of 51.2 points per game leads in the nation.
 
SENIOR SALUTE
Thursday's final regular season home game served as the final regular season home game for LCU's Tess Bruffey, Caitlyn Buttram and Delaney Gaddis. Bruffey and Buttram have spent all four of their seasons as part of the Lady Chaps and Gaddis is in her second season. For Bruffey and Buttram, the two have been part of a 52-2 (96.3%) record in home games and a Heartland Conference record of 57-7 (90%) since they joined the Lady Chaps.
 
BLOCKING IT OUT
Tess Bruffey, who ranked second nationally last season in blocks per game (3.9), co-leads the nation with 95 blocks on the season. Her 95 blocks (third highest single-season mark in program history) come at a rate of 4.0 per game (second nationally). The Lady Chaps, as a team, rank third in the nation with 153 blocks. In her career, Bruffey has a program and conference record 367 blocks, marking her as the NCAA Div. II's active career leader (third among all levels) and its the ninth highest rate all-time in NCAA Div. II history (five away from moving into eighth). She also ranks on the NCAA Div. II's active career leader charts in points (1,580, 14th), field goals (577, 11th) and double-doubles (22, 24th).  
 
ROAD WARRIORS
LCU is 7-0 in road play this season and have produced some defensive minded performances. In six of the seven road games, LCU has held the home team to a shooting percentage less than 35% (under 23% in two of the games). They held Texas A&M Commerce to a 21.7% from the field on Nov. 13 and Rogers State to a 22% shooting mark on Jan. 10. LCU has outscored opponents by average of 68.0 - 48.1 on the road this season, holding the home team to a 30.9% shooting mark. The Lady Chaps have a 121-59 advantage in points from the free-throw line on the road as well. Tess Bruffey leads LCU on the road averaging 17.3 points per game, with Olivia Robertson contributing 10.6 points per game on the road.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OC
• The Lady Eagles are 8-15 overall and 4-7 in conference play this season. They have lost three of their won three of their last four games and their contest hosting LCU closes a four-game homestand (3-6 at home this season).
• The Heartland Conference Preseason Poll selected OC to finish sixth in the regular season. They are currently 4-7 this season in conference play (in fifth place) and went 10-6 in conference play last season.
• The Lady Eagles entered the week leading the Heartland Conference with a 74.9% free-throw percentage (54th nationally), but LCU and Newman each jumped past the Lady Eagles in free-throw shooting. Addy Clift was also the conference individual leader to start the week with 101 free-throws on the season, but was passed by Newman's Bria DeGrate (105). Clift ranks third in the HC at 80.2% from the line.
• OC features the Heartland's top scorer in Addy Clift, who averages 19.5 points per game. Her scoring rate ranks 23rd nationally. Collecting most of the assists is Maddison Collyer, who ranks 44th nationally in assists (110) and 39^th in assists per game (4.8).
• The scoring offense of the Lady Eagles leads the Heartland and ranks 45th nationally with a pace of 74.9 points per game.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST OC
OC leads the all-time series 29-24 dating back to 1979. Despite trailing the all-time series, LCU has won 20 of the last 23 meetings. The Lady Chaps have won the prior 13 meetings, with OC's last win coming on Feb. 17, 2011. LCU has scored at least 100 points in three of the prior 10 encounters. Both teams are former Sooner Athletic Conference foes.
 
PRIOR MEETING VS. OC
Jan. 20, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas): LCU 78 - OC 64
Lubbock Christian University's Tess Bruffey completed a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) and her performance inside Rip Griffin Center helped lead to them to a 78-64 win over Oklahoma Christian in Heartland Conference play.
 
LCU's win included their biggest deficit they have overcome this season. All their largest deficits they have overcome this season (wins in 17 of 18 games) have come in the opening quarter. The opening quarter Saturday witnessed six lead changes, which matched the most in a Lady Chaps contest this season (matched Nov. 10 contest against Colorado State – Pueblo). Katie Mayo was carrying the Lady Eagles early. She scored 10 points in the opening quarter and capped a 5-0 run with a field goal with 3:18 left in the opening quarter for a 14-8 lead for OC.  Bruffey provided the response LCU needed with a three-pointer to spark a 15-2 LCU run. The first six points of the run were provided by Bruffey, who had 10 points in the first quarter and helped LCU take a 17-16 lead into the second quarter.
 
The lead was at 23-16 (6:27 left in the second quarter) at the close of the 15-2 run. Caitlyn Cunyus connected on a trio of three pointers in the opening half. Two came on consecutive attempts midway through the second quarter. Cunyus (six points) and Maddi Chitsey (five points) combined for 11 points in the second quarter and helped build LCU's lead into double figures. A 5-0 LCU run closed out the half with LCU outscoring OC 25-13 in the quarter for a 42-29 halftime lead. LCU was 47.1% (16/34) from the field in the half, with a 64.7% (11/17) shooting mark inside the arc.
 
LCU's offense continued in the third quarter, shooting 63.6% (7/11) in the quarter. They outscored OC 27-17, receiving points from seven different individuals. Cunyus (seven points) and Bruffey (six points) combined for 13 points in the frame. LCU went to the free-throw line 17 times in the quarter and converted on 11 attempts. Six of the 11 points from the line in the quarter came during a 10-0 run to put LCU up 59-39 with 2:53 left in the quarter. They completed the quarter with a 69-46 lead.
 
The Lady Chaps scored the first three points of the fourth quarter and had their largest lead at 72-46 (47 seconds into the quarter). Chitsey made a field goal six seconds into the quarter, but LCU would only score one additional field goal in the game (they closed the game 1-of-9 from the field). Ashton Duncan's layup ended a sequence of seven consecutive field goal misses by LCU in the quarter. OC, with seven points in the quarter from Audrey Hayes, outscored LCU 14-2 in paint scoring and 13-3 in points off turnovers (eight turnovers by LCU in the quarter), but they were unable to cut LCU's to less than a 14-point lead.
 
LCU produced 21 points from the free-throw line, as they outscored OC 21-7 from the line. Twenty-two (22) of LCU's 29 attempts came in the second half. LCU had their second highest rebound total of the season, with 48 rebounds. Bruffey's 12 rebounds led LCU, who out-rebounded OC 48-31 for a +17 rebound margin.
 
Bruffey led LCU with 18 points and was joined in double figures by Cunyus (16 points) and Chitsey (12 points). OC, outscoring LCU 23-15 in points off turnovers, was led by Mayo, who finished with 13 points. Maddison Collyer (12 points), Hayes (11 points) and Addy Clift (10 points) also provided OC with offensive contributions. OC (5-13, 1-5), entering the game as the conference's leading team in scoring, was held to 35.7% (25/70) shooting from the field.