SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 19, 2018) – No.10/11 Central Missouri was held without a field goal for the final 5:12 of the game, but they had their final 14 points scored from the free-throw line to defeat No.2 Lubbock Christian University 72-62 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament at Sanford Pentagon Monday afternoon.  The loss is LCU's first NCAA Division II postseason loss in program history (9-1) and it closes their 2017-18 season at 31-2.
 
The loss also closes out the storied career of Tess Bruffey. Bruffey, becoming the Heartland Conference's all-time leader in games played (Monday marked her 124^th career game), was held to nine points and five rebounds to finish her career with 1,728 points (fourth all-time in program history and second in Heartland history) and 845 rebounds (third in program history and fourth in Heartland history). The two-time WBCA All-American also entered the record books with 631 field goals made (second in program history and third in Heartland history) on 1,352 attempts (second highest in program history and fourth in Heartland history).  Bruffey will most notably know for her blocks.  The Lubbock, Texas native completed the season with a program and Heartland single-season record 129 blocks, which is the 19^th best single-season blocks mark in NCAA Div. II history.  The 129 blocks places the D2CCA South Central Most Valuable Player with 401 career blocks. She recorded two Monday to eclipse 400 and the 401 career blocks not only lead the program and Heartland, but also rank as the sixth highest block total in NCAA Div. II history.
 
Bruffey was unable to get into sync Monday and it started with a pair of fouls against her in the opening 4:09 of the game. The quick fouls limited LCU's leading scorer and rebounder to 11 minutes in the first half. Despite her early struggles LCU had a 12-4 lead to start the game after Delaney Gaddis knocked down a three-pointer 3:48 into the contest to help LCU open the game 5-of-6 from the field. Once the second foul took place, UCM went on an 11-4 scoring run and led LCU 20-18 at the close of the opening quarter. UCM was 7-of-10 (70%) from the field in the first quarter, with nine points coming from Morgan Fleming. LCU received seven points from Gaddis in the quarter.
 
After a hot shooting first quarter, the Jennies made their opening shot of the second quarter, but then missed 11 consecutive field goal attempts. The Lady Chaps went on a 5-of-7 stretch from the field and Gaddis field goal to close the stretch allowed LCU take a 31-30 lead and it was one of six lead changes in the second quarter. Matching the Lady Chaps performance in the quarter, UCM closed the half 5-of-7 from the field, with three-pointers from All-American Paige Redmond and Kelsey Williams in the mix to take a 34-31 halftime lead.
 
Maddi Chitsey scored the opening four points of the second half for LCU and they regained the lead at 35-34 2:16 into the third quarter, but UCM, opening the second half missing their first five shot attempts, responded making five of their next six field goal attempts and used a 6-0 run to take a 48-41 lead. UCM led 50-45 at the end of the quarter.
 
In the game's final 16:07, UCM was 8-of-13 from the field when attempting a shot with a lead of three or less points.  They also had a 22-13 rebound advantage to prevent LCU from having opportunities to to regain the lead. In the final 11:33, LCU was 0-for-2 from the field and committed a turnover when conducting a possession with a deficit of three or less. Seven consecutive misses inside the five minutes remaining by LCU led to them fouling the Jennies, who were 14-of-18 from the line in the fourth quarter.
 
UCM outscored LCU 22-10 from the free-throw line and 7-0 in second chance scoring. LCU opponents had made more than 16 free-throws in a game on two occasions during the season. The 22 points from the line by the Jennies was the second most, behind 25 points by Ashland on Nov. 24, 2017. LCU's only two losses of the season came in the two games. LCU being held without a second-chance point is a program low and had not been done since specialty stats have been kept on file since 2009.
 
Robertson led LCU with 16 points, going 7-of-8 from the field. Caitlyn Cunyus also finished in double figures with 13 points. The Jennies finished with four players in double figures, led by Fleming, who finished with 16 points. Redmond (14 points), Kayonna Lee (13 points) and Megan Skaggs (10 points) also chipped in offensively for UCM, who advances to the semifinals with a 28-3 record.
 
LCU completes the season with a 31-2 mark. Their second best win percentage (93.9%) in program history and the 31 wins matches as the second highest in program history. The Jennies ended LCU's 25-game win streak, but LCU still holds win streaks at home (50 games) and on the road (nine games), as both losses during the season came in neutral site venues. The game marked the final game for LCU's seniors. Joining Bruffey to close out their LCU careers was Delaney Gaddis and Caitlyn Buttram. Gaddis finished the contest with seven points and four assists.
 
FOR STARTS
LCU used the same starting lineup for all 33 games of the season.  Tess Bruffey, Caitlyn Cunyus, Delaney Gaddis, Olivia Robertson and Maddi Chitsey completed the Lady Chaps starting unit. 
 
OH-MO.
LCU is 46-9 in their last 57 game, but two of their nine losses have come against Missouri based programs. The meeting was the first between the two programs and LCU is now 3-2 against Missouri based teams.
 
PENTAGON PROBLEMS  
LCU entered the game 4-of-23 (17.4%) from three-point range in games they have played inside Sanford Pentagon. Despite matching their fourth lowest amount of three-pointers this season (4) and their seventh lowest shooting mark from long range (23.5%), the two marks were the best LCU has done in the categories in the venue. Tess Bruffey never felt comfortable in the building, as she went 3-of-12 from the field Monday to put her all-time shooting mark inside Sanford Pentagon at 12-of-34 (35.3%) and 0-of-9 from three-point range.
 
NEUTRALIZED
Something about neutral site games gets Olivia Robertson going. The junior's 16 points Monday placed her with a team-leading 13.3 points per game in neutral site play this season (eight games).
 
TURNING POINT
With 7:51 remaining in the fourth quarter and LCU trailing 52-50, Tess Bruffey took a defensive rebound underneath the basket. Contact from the battle for the rebound led to Bruffey attempting to throw an outlet pass.  Her attempt was deflected and hit the backside of the backboard resulting in a change of possession, as the crew missed the deflection. With the ball back into the hands of Central Missouri, they were able to convert with a field goal by Medan Skaggs.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Caitlyn Cunyus went 3-for-3 from the free-throw in the game for LCU. Her first free-throw attempts of the NCAA postseason placed her with 51 attempts on the season, just qualifying her with the needed 50 attempts to enter the LCU single-season record books. Her mark of 92.15% (47-of-51) on the season is the third best single-season mark in program history (just ahead of Nicole Hampton's mark of 92.10% from 2012-2013). Kelsey Hoppel, from Midland, Texas, holds the single-season record (93.8% from 2013-14), but the next seven single-season leaders are all players associated with Canyon, Texas, as Cunyus is a native of Canyon.  Severyn Smith is seventh on the list and although she is from Amarillo, Texas, she attended Randall High School (part of the Canyon Independent School District).