LUBBOCK, TEXAS (January 3, 2018) - The Texas A&M International University Women's Basketball will open the new year with a return to Heartland Conference play. The Dustdevils take on Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas on Thursday.
 
The Dustdevils come into Saturday's game with an overall record of 2-13 and a 0-1 mark in Heartland Conference play. The Dustdevils come off a 50-74 loss at Angelo State on December 30. Prior to the matchup with Angelo State, the Dustdevils fell in consecutive games against Western Washington and Simon Fraser at the WWU Viking Holiday Hoops Classic.  
 
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME MATCHUP:
Thursday's game will mark the ninth all-time matchup between the Dustdevils and Lady Chaps. The teams have faced off eight times in four seasons with LCU holding the advantage 7-1. The Dustdevils last win against LCU came in 2015 when TAMIU took down the Lady Chaps 68-60 in the final game of the regular season.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY CHAPS:
LCU enters Thursday's game as the South Central region's #1 ranked team. The 12-1 Lady Chaps sit at #5 in the WBCA National Poll. LCU is riding a six game win streak and are 7-0 inside the Rip Griffin Center this season. The teams only loss came against the nations #1 ranked team in Ashland when the Eagles defeated the Lady Chaps 79-66. The Lady Chaps last game was on December 30, 2017 when they defeated Eastern New Mexico 64-55. LCU sits at 1-0 in the Heartland Conference this season after downing UAFS 67-62 on December 2.
 
LCU is averaging 72.5 points per game this season while holding opponents to just 53.9 points per game.  The Lady Chaps are shooting 47.2% from the fiels this season while posting a 39.8% mark from behind the arc.
 
Tess Bruffey leads the LCU offense, scoring 15.4 points per game this season, tallying an even 200 through 13 games this season. Maddi Chitsey averages 10.8 points per game while three others average eight points per game or more. Bruffey serves as the team leader in most statistical categories, including rebounds. Bruffey has hauled in 114 boards this season, averaging 8.8 rebounds per game.
 
A LOOK AT THE DUSTDEVILS:
TAMIU continues to run the offense through Tantashea Giger who averages 15.8 points per game this season. Giger also accounts for a team-high 102 rebounds. Giger has been a staple at the line this season, making 64 free-throws for the Dustdevils.
 
TAMIU enters Saturday's matchup scoring 59.2 points per game this season while opponents average 71.5. The Dustdevils are shooting 35.7% from the field and 25.2% from behind the arc.
 
THE HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TODAY:
Newman holds the top spot in the Heartland Conference with a 2-0 record. The Jets are 10-5 overall. Lubbock Christian sits in the second spot with a 1-0 conference record and 12-1 overall record. Arkansas-Fort Smith, St. Edward's, and St. Mary's all sit one spot below the Lady Chaps at 1-1 in Heartland play. The Dustdevils join Rogers State and Oklahoma Christian at 0-1.
 
UP NEXT:
The Dustdevils will return home after taking on LCU for a two-game homestand where TAMIU hosts Oklahoma Christian and Newman. The Eagles and Dustdevils will face off on January 11 inside the TAMIU KCB with tip-off set for 5:30pm.
 
STAY TUNED:
Stay up to date with the Dustdevils all season long by liking or following @TAMIUAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.