If you play in a place you proudly call "The Barn" it's no wonder that you win 94 percent of your home games.

That was the case until Sunday when Campbellsville punctuated a three-game Xavier University losing streak with a thrilling 71-70 win. The Golden Nuggets had won 80 of 85 home games until Langston,  Lindsey Wilson and the Lady Tigers ran through The Barn.

"We were lucky today,"  said Coach Ginger Colvin. "They outplayed us in every aspect of the game but the score."



Xavier blew an eight-point lead down the stretch on Saturday when it played Lindsey, the second Mid-South Conference school making the New Orleans New Year's trip. The Golden Nuggets led CU by as many as 11 in the first half and held a 70-69 edge until Whitney Ballinger hit two free throws with five seconds to go.

"We may have come away with a win, but we were fortunate," said Colvin.

The win gives the Lady Tigers (13-1) a six-game winning streak since losing Dec. 5 to No. 1 Union University. Xavier fell to 7-5.

It wasn't much to write home about until three-fourths of the game was spent. Playing from behind all afternoon until the the eight-minute mark, Campbellsville looked like it was playing against eight defenders, contributing to 26 turnovers.

But the Lady Tigers ramped up their defense after intermission, forcing Xavier into 15 second-half miscues. Kristi Ensminger, who logged 30 minutes off the bench and was utilized at virtually every position, collected 10 rebounds to go along with her six points.

"They attacked us and we didn't respond," said Colvin.

You pick your poison with Xavier as the Golden Nuggets had nine players to reach the scoring column in the first half and 10 altogether in the game.

CU squirted out to a four-point lead twice, only to see that evaporate and Xavier led 68-65 with 2:22 to go. Courtney Danis, who led the Lady Tigers with 27 points, hit a layup and two free throws to pull her team to within one, 70-69 Then Xavier's Jazmone Kelly missed two free throws with 15 seconds to go, setting up Ballinger's winning tosses.

Ballinger had a double-double, 14 and 14 to go along with her five blocked shots.

The Lady Tigers host Olivet Nazarene at 7:00 Friday


BOX SCORE


PHOTO GALLERY

Scoring

Campbellsville (71) - Ballinger 14, Thomas 9, Heaton 6, Danis 27, Isaacs 1, Lee 4, Dunn 4, Ensminger 6.

Xavier (70) - Powell 17, Kelly 3, Franklin 5, Grant 12, Warren 6, M. Jones 8, Kennebrew 2, Wise 7, D. Jones 8, Young 2.