TULSA, Okla. (March 6, 2016) – Nicole Hampton, with her second double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) of the Heartland Conference Tournament, and Haley Fowler (17 points) combined for 35 points and led No.1 Lubbock Christian University to their Heartland Conference Tournament title and their second postseason tournament title in program history with a 75-52 win over sixth-seeded St. Edward’s University Sunder afternoon in the Heartland Conference Tournament championship game at John Q. Hammons Arena (UMAC). The win gives LCU an automatic qualification into the 2016 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship South Central Regional tournament.

LCU led throughout and jumped out to the game’s first lead with Kelsey Hoppel connecting on a three-pointer. The Lady Chaps opened the game on a 13-4 run and Hoppel led LCU with 10 points in the opening quarter. She had two three-pointers in the quarter to set the program single season record for three-pointers with 75. LCU led 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.

St. Edwards, who was coming off consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January, had an opportunity to come back, as LCU went on a 4:52 stretch without a field goal and was 0-of-9 from the field during the scoring drought. A 4-0 run was all SEU could put together. Fowler, who ended the dry spell with a field goal with 6:07 left in the half, led LCU with eight points in the second quarter and LCU led 41-28 at the half.

The Hilltoppers opened the second half with the first four points to cut LCU’s lead to 41-32, but the Lady Chaps responded with an 18-1 run for a 59-33 lead. Hampton had eight points during the quarter and LCU outscored the Hilltoppers 21-8 in the quarter for a 62-36 lead.

Reserves filled the floor in the fourth quarter and LCU received three-pointers from Allea Harris, Claire Bruffey and Blair Taylor. The three by Taylor gave LCU their largest lead of the game (72-44 with 5:19 remaining).

The Lady Chaps outscored SEU 46-10 in the paint and 18-3 in points off turnovers (12-0 in the first half). Hampton claimed Tournament MVP Honors after finishing the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds. She averaged 15.3 points and nine rebounds in the tournament. Fowler’s 17 points was a season high and it also placed her on the All-Tournament team with a 13-point average in the tournament. She finished with nine rebounds and a rebound shy of claiming her first double-double of the season. Bruffey finished the game with 12 points and had a tournament average of 13.7 points to also garner a spot on the All-Tournament team. Hoppel also finished with double figures with 10 points.

SEU ends their season with a 12-17 record with the loss. Shakera Barnes led SEU with 13 points. They also received 12 points from Lexi Fatheree and 10 points from Lubbock native Abby Hopper.

LCU improved to 29-0 with the win. This season marked LCU’s first season eligible for the Heartland Conference Tournament and they not only claim their first Heartland Conference Tournament title but their second postseason title in program history. Their only prior tournament tile was the 2013 Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title.

Courtesy: LCU Sports Information Department