CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Fourth-ranked Campbellsville University went toe-to-toe with the two-time defending NAIA Division I Women's Basketball national champions Saturday, losing in a close finish to top-ranked Union University, 66-63, in Powell Athletic Center. 



Campbellsville led for the first 10 minutes of the game until Kayla Hudson scored five unanswered points, including her first of two 3-pointers in the game, to give Union its first lead, 19-16, with 9:25 left in the opening half.

From there Union built its lead to seven at the break, 33-26, as the Lady Tigers struggled to find their shot from 3-point range in the first half (1-of-12).

" I thought we played extremely hard. I'm very, very proud of my kids of where we were. I don't think we were out played. I think we were just out shot," CU head coach Ginger Colvin said. "They're the No. 1 team in the country, and justifiably so. When you play somebody like that you've got to knock down all of your free throwns and shoot the ball well."

In the second half, Union worked its lead to nine on numerous occasions, leading 50-41 with 12:39 left to play. That's when Whitney Ballinger really began to take over the game, scoring the next eight Campbellsville points through a double team in the post. Melly Heaton connected on a long-range 3 with eight minutes left to cut the Lady Bulldog lead to three, 55-52, and Courtney Clifton followed with her only 3 of the night off a Ballinger steal to tie the game, 55-55.

Both teams were carried in the post. While Sarah Chan led Union with 31 points and 14 rebounds, Ballinger led all scorers with 32 points and added 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

Union (12-0) won the game on the perimeter, where it was 5-of-7 shooting the 3 and Campbellsville finished 4-of-21.

The Lady Bulldogs worked the lead back to seven, 63-56, after the CU tie, but the Lady Tigers were not going to fold. Ballinger scored the next four points for Campbellsville to give her 32 points on the night, while sophomore point guard pulled CU within three, 66-63, with two minutes left on a second-chance 3-pointer.

Campbellsville shut down the Union offense in the final two minutes but was unable to sink a basket, as Ballinger was 0-3 from the field and 0-1 at the line in the final 1:20. The senior post/guard attempted a game-tying 3-pointer from the top of the key with one second remaining, but missed short.

The loss snapped a record 29-game Lady Tiger win streak in Powell Athletic Center. Prior to Saturday, the last loss was in November 2008, also to Union.

" It's nice to have a win streak like that but I feel like you're competing against yourself with that one because of the good teams that have come before us. We've had great players here. You can look up into the stands at a big game tonight and see a lot of former players cheering you on," Covlin said. "We still play for them too. It's the name on your chest that's playing. It's not a number. It's not an individual. It's a tradition."

CU (7-2, 2-0 MSC) travels to the University of Rio Grande (8-2, 1-0 MSC) on Thursday night to take on the RedStorm in a Mid-South Conference battle at 6 p.m. EST. Bryan Blair will provide radio coverage on KCountry 105.7 FM and KCountry1057.com.

BOX SCORE

Union (66) - Adams 1, McLaughlin 10, Hudson 10, Bryant 3, Chan 31, Awino Duol 10. Totals 26-51  9-12  66.
Lady Tigers (63) - Lee 4, Heaton 3, Danis 8, Clifton 7, Ballinger 32, Isaacs 7, Dunn 2. Totals 25-63 9-14 63.
Half-time - Union 33-26.
Three-point goals - Union 5-7 (McLaughlin 2, Hudson 2, Bryant 1), Campbellsville 4-21 (Lee 1, Heaton 1, Clifton 1, Isaacs 1).
Rebounds - Georgetown 37, Campbellsville 31 (Ballinger 11).
Assists - Union 14, Campbellsville 10 (Heaton 5)
Steals - Union 6, Campbellsville 5 (Lee 2, Heaton 2, Clifton 2, Ballinger 2, Isaacs 2).
Blocked shots - Union 5 (Awino Duol 5, Chan 2), Campbellsville 3 (Ballinger 3).