TULSA, Okla.- Tess Bruffey led No.1 Lubbock Christian University with 20 points and the Lady Chaparrals held fifth-seeded St. Mary’s University to one field goal in the second quarter to advance to the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship Game with a 63-42 win Saturday at John Q. Hammons Arena (UMAC). LCU will play St. Edward’s University in the title game Sunday at 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN3.
Some Lady Chaps have been challenging sickness and injuries, with the latest injury coming Friday during practice, which has sidelined Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year Kellyn Schneider to a day-to-day basis. Her absence Saturday forced head coach Steve Gomez to turn in a different lineup for the first time this season.
With Schneider sidelined, Bruffey and Haley Fowler stepped up their role offensively in the game. The two split the team’s opening 12 points of the game and they were much needed during the quarter, which featured five lead changes. Fowler had nine points in the opening quarter and LCU led 19-18 at the close of the quarter.
Mariah Lee converted on a field goal attempt 3:03 into the second quarter, cutting LCU’s lead to 21-20, but things went south from there for the Rattlers. They went the next 7:38 without a field goal. StMU was 1-for-6 from the field during the quarter. Meanwhile, LCU went on a 15-2 run and led 33-22 at the half. LCU outscored the Rattlers 14-4 in the quarter and Nicole Hampton had eight of the points for LCU.
Bruffey and Allison Szabo, who started for Schneider, combined for 14 points in the third quarter and their offense was the pulse of a 13-3 run to give LCU a 49-27 lead with 2:09 left in the quarter. StMU went on a 12-2 run carrying into the fourth quarter and cut LCU’s lead down to 51-39 with 7:06 left. It would be as close as StMU would get as they were held to one field goal the rest of the way and LCU closed the game on a 12-3 run.
LCU was 54.5% (12/22) from the field in the second half (9-for-14 from inside the arc) and they held StMU to 31.8% (7/22) in the half. Overall, LCU was 51.1% (24/47) from the field. LCU had a 38-18 advantage in scoring in the paint. Bruffey registered her fourth game of at least 20 points of the season. She was 9-of-13 from the field. Hampton finished with 14 points and Fowler produced 12 points for LCU. Kiara Etheridge led StMU with 14 points and Mariah Lee was behind her with 10 points for the Rattlers, who finish their season with an 18-10 mark.
The Lady Chaps will seek their second postseason title in program history Sunday at 1 p.m. facing St. Edward’s University in Tulsa. The sixth-seeded Hilltoppers upset Arkansas-Fort Smith Saturday 78-63. The last postseason tournament title for LCU was the 2013 Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. Sunday’s game can be viewed on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
TURNING POINT
The Lady Chaps 15-2 run in the second quarter was more of a defensive minded run than offensive and it allowed them to garner separation. LCU was just 4-of-10 from the field during the run, but they received seven points coming from the line and their defense forced seven turnovers.
STAT OF THE GAME
Kelsey Hoppel was without a three-pointer for only the third time this season. Her streak of consecutive games with at least 10 points came to an end at 11 games. Hoppel, overcoming an illness, has done a solid job in rebounding back in games following a game held without a three-pointer. She was 4-of-7 at Texas A&M International (12/17/15) and 5-of-7 against St. Edward’s (1/23/16) from long distance in games this season which have followed a game held without a three-pointer.