CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville used a three-point play by
Chelsea Craig with about two minutes to go that gave the Lady Tigers a 67-64 lead that was never relinquished as CU defeated No. 18 Columbia College Saturday night, 75-70.
"That was huge," said Coach
Ginger Colvin. "We're pleased to death with the way Chelsea is playing right now. She's a battler."
Campbellsville (7-1, 1-0) trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but reversed that on the shoulders of
Courtney Clifton's 17 first-half points. Clifton was 2-7 from behind the arc until five minutes to go. That's when she went on a tear and scored 14 of her 17 points, ending the half with five 3s on 11 attempts. She led all scorers in the game with 27.
"Courtney hit some big shots for us," said Colvin. "But it was the energy our bench created that got us back in the game."
Colvin was not pleased with her team's effort early as Columbia (7-2) raced out to a 27-13 lead at the nine-minute mark. By the time the dust settled from the first 20 minutes CU held an improbable 35-32 lead.
"They're good," said Colvin of Columbia. "They're better than an 18th-rated team, in my opinion."
It looked like it might be easy as the Lady Tigers reeled off the first six point of the second half on two buckets by
Megan Isaacs and another by
Katie Allen. And after
Mary Jehlik scored with 9:30 to go Campbellsville led 57-49.
But that's when things got sloppy. CU committed three turnovers and missed three shots on its next six possessions and that lead turned into a 58-57 deficit when Julie Teeple hit a basket at the six-minute mark.
Columbia's leading scorer, Kayla Rice, hit a basket to draw the Lady Cougars to within one, 69-68. But Clifton hit a two-pointer and then Columbia was whistled for a moving screen. Clifton hit four free throws with under six seconds to play to seal the win.
"We have so much to work on," said Colvin. "There were so many 50/50 balls that we didn't get and those turnovers down the stretch ... we can't continue to do that."
The Lady Tigers go on the road Thursday to pre-season conference No. 1, Shawnee State. Tipoff will be at 6:00 and the game will be broadcast over university radio (88.7). A link for listening on the computer can be found at www.campbellsvilletigers.com.
Lady Tigers (75) - Jehlik 5 Clifton 27, Lee 8, Allen 12, Isaacs 8, Owen 1, Kimberland 2, Craig 12. Totals 23-61 21-29 75.
Columbia (70) - Rice 17, English 16, Eldridge ,9 M. Smith 6, Teeple 16, Seifert 3, Bogle 3. Totals 27-60 11-15 70.
Half-time - Campbellsville 35-32. Three-point Goals - Campbellsville 8-19 (Clifton 5, Lee 1, Allen 1, Jehlik 1) Columbia 5-16 (Rice 1, English 2, Eldridge 1, Seifert 1). Rebounds - Campbellsville 38 (Lee 6, Isaacs 2, Craig 5, Hellyer 4, Clifton 6, Jehlik 4), Columbia 40 (Teeple 10, English 6). Assists - Campbellsville 13 (Allen 8, Clifton 2), Columbia 15 (Rice 5, Eldridge 4). Steals - Campbellsville 10 (Lee 4, Isaacs 2), Columbia 12 (English 6).
