LUBBOCK, Texas (LCU Press Release) – Tess Bruffey scored 18 points in the first quarter and top-ranked Lubbock Christian University cruised to an 88-68 NCAA Div. II Tournament win over No.9/No.11 West Texas A&M in the South Central Region final at a sold out Rip Griffin Center. The win gives LCU their first region title and advances them into the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Bruffey took the wind out of the Lady Buffs sails early with a big first quarter performance. She was 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from long range in the quarter. The third three-pointer came on a heave banked off the glass with time expiring on a 30-16 first quarter for LCU. The Lady Chaps went on a 15-3 run in the quarter.
The Lady Buffs went the first 4:41 of the second quarter without a field goal. The Lady Chaps built as much as a 50-25 lead in the half and took a 50-27 lead into the half. Bruffey matched a career high (22 points) and did it all in the first half.
LCU had a string of 10 consecutive field goals made in the second half. They were 70% (7-of-10) from the field in the fourth quarter and finished the second half 13-of-18 (72.2%) from the field. LCU led as much as 73-47 (7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter).
The Lady Chaps were 63.8% from the field in the game (30/47). Bruffey had the highest individual point total by a Lady Chaps member this season with 26 points (8-of-10 from the field). LCU also received 18 points from Nicole Hampton, 17 points from Kelsey Hoppel and 16 points from Haley Fowler.
Several milestones were achieved, as Fowler became the third active Lady Chaps member to eclipse 1,000 points in her LCU career (sitting with 1,002). Hampton, who had seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals, moved into third all-time on LCU’s point list. She has 1,731 career points and moved past Emily Pool into third all-time.
LCU and WT are separated by 110 miles, but they had only met one prior time. The Lady Buffs (28-5) were unable to win the region for a third straight season despite 21 points from Sasha Watson. LCU’s win over WT marked the Lady Buffs worst loss since a 79-51 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 24, 2012.
LCU (32-0) becomes the first Heartland Conference team since Drury in 2004 to reach the Division II Elite Eight. Drury eventually went on to the Division II National Title game, where they finished as the runner up to champion California (Pa.). The Lady Chaps will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. to play the winner of Benedict and Florida Southern on Mar. 22.