Hampton's First Career Triple-Double Helps Move LCU Past Southern University - New Orleans 78-57
By: Chris Due - LCU Athletics
Updated: March 14, 2013
FRANKFORT,
Ky. (March 14, 2013) - Nicole Hampton recorded possibly the first
triple-double
in Lubbock Christian University program history, and her performance
with 15 rebounds, 11 points and 11 assists helped top-seeded LCU move
into the round of 16 with a 78-57 win over eight-seeded Southern
University - New Orleans Thursday in the opening round
of the 33rd Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
Triple-double
records were not kept on file prior to the 2003-2004 season and
Hampton's mark
is the only triple-double since those records were kept. Officially, her
mark does signify the first time the goal has been accomplished by a
Lady Chaps member at the tournament and the first in program history
under the tenure of head coach Steve Gomez. The
last time a player had a triple-double at the tournament was Mar. 17,
2000 when Whitney Ballinger completed the task for Campbellsville
University.
Hampton's
numbers were solid, but the Lady Chaps also received balance production
elsewhere.
Kelsey Canavan produced her third consecutive double-double with 14
points and 11 rebounds, Kelsey Hoppel led LCU with 18 points and
Courtney Wilson contributed 17 points. Hampton's 15 rebounds matched a
career high and her 11 assists marked a new career high.
SUNO
had a 4-2 lead erased by a three-pointer from Haley Burton and LCU
never trailed the rest
of the way. LCU slowly built a 10-point lead at 27-17 after a 7-0 run
with 7:41 remaining in the first half. April Perry, the NAIA's leading
scorer this season, would respond with five consecutive field goals and a
10-0 Lady Knights run to tie the game at 27-27
with 2:07 left in the half. LCU was 0-for-7 from the field with three
turnovers during the SUNO run, but they were able to rally back in the
final two minutes of the half to grab the momentum back. The Lady Chaps
closed the final two minutes of the half with
a 10-1 run and Hampton's five points during the run helped LCU take a
37-28 lead into the locker room. Perry led all scorers with 13 points in
the first half.
LCU,
the nation's leading team in field goal shooting, struggled with a
35.1% (13/37) shooting
mark during the first half, as SUNO showed why they lead the NAIA in
defensive field goal percentage. The Lady Chaps were able to turn their
shooting woes around in the second half. They shot 51.5% (17/33) in the
second half and they never led by less than
seven points. Trailing 65-52 with 7:41 left in regulation, SUNO
attempted to rally with a 5-0 run, but it was short-lived and LCU did
not allow a point from the Lady Knights over the final 4:45. LCU went on
a 13-0 scoring run to close out the game.
The
Lady Chaps completed the game 42.9% (30/70) from the field. SUNO was
held without a three-point
field goal (0-for-3) in the game. They did receive a double-double from
Janee Morton, who had 11 rebounds to go along with a game-high 20 points
(16 points in the second half). Perry finished with 16 points in the
losing cause for SUNO, who had their season
end with a 19-5 mark and a second appearance at the national tournament
in program history.
LCU
moves to 14-9 all-time in national tournament history and they advance
to the round of
16 for the seventh time (out of 10 first round games) all-time and for
the third consecutive season. The Lady Chaps move to 30-3 overall on the
season and the 30-wins is a single-season record. They will play at 7
p.m. (Central) Friday against either Georgetown
(Ky.) or Lyon College.
