NCAA DIVISION II ELITE EIGHT TOURNAMENT - QUARTERFINALS
No.10/11 CENTRAL MISSOURI (27-3, No.6 Seed)
vs. No.2 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (31-1, No.3 Seed)
Monday, March 19, 2018 – Noon
Sanford Pentagon (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Radio: 100.7 FM The Score
All-Time Series: First Meeting
 
#DESTINATIONSIOUXFALLS
No.2 Lubbock Christian University has been eligible for NCAA postseason for three seasons since their transition from NAIA, and in two of the seasons the Lady Chaps found their way to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament and both have been hosted in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Elite Eight Tournament is the final leg of the eight remaining teams going for a NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship, and all remaining games of the tournament are played inside Sanford Pentagon.  LCU played their national tournament quarterfinals and semifinals in 2015-16 in Sioux Falls before advancing to Indianapolis for the championship game. Tip-off for LCU in the quarterfinals is set for Monday at noon against University of Central Missouri and the game is the first game of the entire Elite Eight Tournament.
 
THE "IF's"
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeat UCM, they will improve to 32-1 on the season and will move to 10-0 all-time in NCAA postseason play. A LCU victory would place them into the semifinals, where they would play Carson-Newman or Union (Tenn.).
 
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Jennies, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will have their season end at 31-2.
 
LOOK AT THEIR LAST GAME
Tess Bruffey recorded the fourth triple-double in program history on a night No.2 Lubbock Christian University needed it most. The senior, playing in her final home game, produced 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the top-seeded Lady Chaparrals to a 56-53 win over No.13/21 and No.2-seeded West Texas A&M. The win provided the NCAA Division II South Central Region crown and advances them to the Elite Eight for a second time in program history. 
 
The contest was tightly played between the two teams, and defense was at full display. The two teams combined for 13 blocks, with five coming from WT to match the most by a LCU opponent this season.  In the opening quarter, LCU went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-4 lead, but WT responded with the next five points to tie the score 9-9. WT benefited off four LCU turnovers in the quarter leading to 5-0 scoring advantage in points off turnovers. Bruffey led LCU with seven points in the quarter and took a 16-13 lead into the second quarter.
 
LCU continuously had a five-point lead in the second quarter, but was unable to extend the lead. They were 0-of-5 from the field with a shot attempt while leading by five. Leading 27-23, LCU ended a 3:22 scoring drought with Olivia Robertson hitting a 50-foot fling at the horn to take a 30-23 lead at the half.  Bruffey nearly completed a double-double in the first half with 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
Maddi Chitsey, who also claimed All-Tournament honors, scored the opening bucket of the second half and LCU took the game's biggest lead at 32-23. Tyesha Taylor scored six points for WT in the third quarter and helped them respond from the game's biggest deficit with a 13-4 run to tie the game at 36-36 with 1:41 left in the quarter. Bobbi Chitsey hit a field goal with 45 seconds left in the third quarter to provide LCU a 40-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
Leading 45-43, LCU went on a 7-1 run to build the lead to 52-44 on a layup by Robertson with 1:42 left. Credit the Lady Buffs for rallying late, as they hit three three-pointers in the final 1:11. Madison Parker's trey with seven seconds left cut LCU's lead to 55-53. Maddi Chitsey was sent to the line for LCU with four seconds remaining. She missed the first, but made the second attempt to place the LCU lead at 56-53. Parker had another good look and put up a shot attempt to tie the game, but the shot did not fall and LCU clinched their second region title in a three-year span.
 
LCU, 6-0 all-time in South Central Region games (all at home), received 12 points from Maddi Chitsey to join Bruffey in double figures. WT was co-led by Lexy Hightower and Sydney Walton, who each had 12 points. Taylor finished with 10 points.
 
LCU's 56 points was a season low, but they are 2-0 when scoring under 60 points. They improve their overall record to 31-1. The 31 wins matches the 2012-2013 win total, which is the second highest single-season win total in program history. LCU improved to 10-0 this season against Lone Star Conference teams.  WT, with their 14-game win streak snapped, had their season end at 29-5.
 
BRUFFEY'S BIG MONDAY
Bruffey's triple-double in LCU's win over West Texas A&M was just one of many storylines and milestones for the senior who closed out her final home game in a confetti filled Rip Griffin Center. The win marked the 50th consecutive home win for the Lady Chaps, and for seniors Bruffey and Caitlyn Buttram (the only seniors to play all four seasons at LCU) they closed out a record of 55-2 (96.5%) in home games. Senior Delaney Gaddis, who transferred to LCU from Otero Junior College (Colo.) prior to last season, completed her time at LCU without the taste of defeat at home (27-0).
 
Here is a list of accomplishment's for Bruffey last Monday:
- Notched the fourth triple-double in program history and matched Nicole Hampton as the only other Lady Chaps to complete the task twice. Bruffey is the 16th different player at the NCAA Div. II level to complete the task this season and it is the 19th double-double registered in NCAA Division II play this season.
- Produced a career high 10 assists, which is the most by a Lady Chap since Nicole Hampton had 12 on Mar. 11, 2016 in the South Central Region Tournament against Angelo State.
- Appeared in her 123rd career game, matching a Heartland Conference record set by Magen Brunson for Drury 2000-2004.
- Scored 17 points to extend her career totals to 1,719 career points, placing her second in conference history (moved past Oklahoma Christian's McKenzie Stanford, who had 1,715 from 2014-2017) and fifth in LCU program history (moved past Mamy N'Kolomoni, who had 1,715 from 1998-2002).
- Her 13 rebounds moved her past Darla Lynch (838 from 1979-1983) and into third place all-time in LCU program history in rebounds (840).
- Claimed Most Outstanding Tournament honors with averages of 16 points, 12.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 4.7 blocks in tournament play.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE MEMBERS
Head Coach Steve Gomez claimed his fourth Coach of the Year honor and his second in the Heartland Conference. Here is a look at the Lady Chaps that claimed All-Conference:
Tess Bruffey: First Team
Maddi Chitsey: Second Team
Caitlyn Cunyus: Second Team
Delaney Gaddis: Honorable Mention
Conference Player of the Year: Tess Bruffey
Conference Defensive Player of the Year: Tess Bruffey
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT (CONFERENCE)
Tess Bruffey claimed Heartland Conference Tournament MVP honors with a tournament average of 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 3.0 assists per game in the tournament. Olivia Robertson also claimed All-Tournament honors with an average of 14.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.  Delaney Gaddis did not claim any individual honors, but did average 10.7 points and shot .700 (14-of-20) from the field (13-of-15, 86.7%, inside the arc).
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT (SOUTH CENTRAL REGION)
Tess Bruffey claimed Most Outstanding Tournament honors at the South Central Region tournament averaging 16.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 4.7 blocks per game. The two-time recipient of the honor had a triple-double in the title game against West Texas A&M. Maddi Chitsey also claimed All-Tournament honors after scoring 15.7 points per game. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds and was 5-of-11 (.455) from long range.
 
TITLE TALK
LCU claimed the Heartland Conference regular season title this season. The title is LCU's fifth conference title in program history and the third in the Heartland Conference. LCU has claimed 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). LCU claimed the Heartland Conference Tournament title, marking their second tournament title in program history (third conference tournament title, if you include their era in the Sooner Athletic Conference). LCU has claimed two Heartland Conference Tournament titles out of their three seasons eligible for Heartland and NCAA postseason.
 
STILL THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Despite owning a NCAA Division II national title (2015-16), Lubbock Christian University's run in NCAA postseason play is still a new thing. LCU is 9-0 in two postseason appearances since joining NCAA Division II. Prior to receiving NCAA Division II membership status, LCU made 10 consecutive appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and went 15-10 (all under head coach Steve Gomez).
 
ELITE EIGHT REVIEW
In 2015-16, LCU played two games in Sioux Falls, S.D., claiming wins over No.4-seed Florida Southern (73-69) and No.1-seed Bentley (67-57) before advancing to Indianapolis. Four Lady Chaps averaged double figures in Sioux Falls in 2016, with Nicole Hampton leading LCU with 18.5 points per game. Tess Bruffey, a sophomore in '16, averaged 11 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in Sioux Falls. LCU was 45.5% (50/110) from the field in their two games inside Sanford Pentagon, but they were 17.4% (4/23) from long range. LCU is 9-0 all-time in NCAA postseason play. LCU is 50.4% from the field all-time in NCAA postseason play, with Nicole Hampton serving as their postseason points leader per average (17.8) and Tess Bruffey (129) tabbed as their all-time postseason points leader (she averages 14.3 points per NCAA postseason game).
 
SPORTSCENTER
Olivia Robertson nailed a 50-foot heave just beyond halfcourt in the region championship game to close the first half and the bucket made ESPN SportsCenter's Social Media Top Plays Tuesday Mar. 13.  Robertson is averaging 13.5 points per game over the last 10 games, going 8-of-18 (44.4%) from long range and 25-of-27 (92.6%) from the line in the span.
 
HOMELAND SECURITY
LCU completed their home schedule going 16-0 this season. They are the 11th team in NCAA Division II women's basketball history to win 50 consecutive home games with their win over West texas A&M on Mar. 12 (it actively leads NCAA Div. II). 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 49 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring Jan. 10, 2013 (against Oklahoma City). They are 43-0 all-time in Heartland Conference home games.
 
LETS BE NEUTRAL   
LCU is 6-1 in neutral site games this season. Tess Bruffey leads LCU in neutral-site play with an average of 13.7 points per game. Olivia Robertson and Maddi Chitsey are right behind, averaging 12.9 points per game. LCU averages 69.4 points per game and an allowance of 57.9 points per game in neutral site competition.
 
MARGINS
LCU leads the Heartland Conference and they rank seventh nationally in scoring margin (average a win margin of 19.2 points per game), and they lead the conference in rebounding margin (30th nationally), with an average of 6.4 more rebounds per game over their opposition.
 
30 in 31
LCU improved their record to 31-2 with their win last Monday over West Texas A&M. The 31 wins marks the third time in program history the Lady Chaps have hit the 30-win plateau and it matches their second-best single season total (2012-13).
 
THAT'S FOUL
LCU ranks eighth nationally in fouls per game with a low of 14.2 fouls per contest. The fouls have led to LCU having a 14.0 - 9.5 scoring advantage over their opponents from the free-throw line (14.9 - 8.1 advantage in conference games). Tess Bruffey leads LCU averaging 3.4 points per game from the free-throw line.
 
MILESTONES
Tess Bruffey currently holds the single season program and Heartland Conference record with 127 blocks this season. She passed former teammate Kellyn Schneider, who had 113 blocks during the 2014-15 season. Bruffey has 1,719 in her career, which ranks fifth all-time in program history and she is six points away from moving into fourth all-time in program history, ahead of Emily Pool (Atkins), who had 1,725 points from 2010-2014. Bruffey is sixth all-time in NCAA Division II history with 399 career block and her next will place her with 400. Monday's game will mark her 124th career game, which will be a new Heartland Conference record.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Final regular season national rankings had Lady Chaparrals remaining at No.2 in both the D2SIDA and WBCA NCAA Div. II Women's Basketball Top-25 Poll for a seventh 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 third nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 47.4% from the field. They have shot at least 50% 14 times this season. Their allowance of 52.1 points per game leads in the nation.
 
SENIOR SALUTE
This postseason serves as the final postseason games 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 55-2 (96.5%) record in home games and a Heartland Conference record of 59-7 (89.4%) since they joined the Lady Chaps.
 
BLOCKING IT OUT
Tess Bruffey, who ranked second nationally last season in blocks per game (3.9), ranks second in the nation with 127 blocks on the season. Her program and conference single-season record 127 blocks come at a rate of 3.9 per game (fourth nationally). The Lady Chaps, as a team, rank second in the nation with 200 blocks. In her career, Bruffey has a program and conference record 399 blocks, marking her as the NCAA Div. II's active career leader (second among all levels) and its the sixth highest rate all-time in NCAA Div. II history. She also ranks on the NCAA Div. II's active career leader charts in points (1,719, 14th), field goals (628, 10th), double-doubles (26, 17th) and triple-doubles (2, 3rd). Bruffey is one of five active players with at least 1,700 points and 800 rebounds.   
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT UCM
• The Jennies are 27-3 overall on the season and finished with a 18-1 conference record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). They advanced to the NCAA postseason as an at-large. They had an 81-42 win over top-seeded Augustana in the championship game of the Central Region to advance to Sioux Falls.
• UCM is advancing to the Elite Eight for a seventh time all-time (won a national title in 1984). Making their 21st postseason appearance, UCM is appearing in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1989 (They are 24-20 all-time and  6-7 under coach Dave Slifer, having made seven regional appearances in 14 years under his guidance).
• The Jennies are 14-1 away from Warrensburg this season and 10-0 in true road games. Their only loss away from Warrensburg was to Lindenwood at the MIAA Tournament.
• The Warrensburg, Mo. based program are a disciplined team ranking sixth nationally in turnovers with a low of 11.8 per game.
• They rank 13th nationally in scoring margin (16.4) and 14th in scoring defense (56.8 points allowed per game). Kelsey Williams paces the Jennies offense with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.27 (21st nationally). Like LCU, UCM is a balanced squad, with no individuals leading any key MIAA statistical categories. Paige Redmond leads the UCM offense averaging 16.4 points per game and is one of three Jennies averaging double figures in points.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH UCM
The Lady Chaps and Jennies have never met. LCU is 3-1 all-time against Missouri based programs and 2-2 all-time against programs currently in the MIAA. The last team from the "Show Me State" LCU faced was Southwest Baptist on Dec. 1, 2016 (67-54 loss).