CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. - The Lady Tigers broke open a close game five
minutes into the second half and posted their 10th win of the season,
57-45, over Cumberland University (2-6).
"I don't know if it was finals week or the girls just wanted to be home for Christmas break," said Coach
Ginger Colvin. "But we're just not playing with the urgency that we need to be. We're a young team and I don't think some of us know yet how much people want to beat us."
A couple of late baskets by
Hayley Hellyer allowed CU to take a 23-19 lead into the break.
With 15:15 to go in the game,
Courtney Clifton, who led the team with 15 points after scoring only three in the first half, hit an impossible runner.
Mackenzie Lee then scored four points and Clifton and Lee combined for another five.
After the dust settled from that 11-0 run,
Chelsea Craig hit two free throws for a 14-point lead, a lead that would never get below 12 the remainder of the game.
"We've finished up our first semester stretch, a pretty tough one, in pretty good shape," said Colvin. "We lost a couple we should have won, and that means we have a lot of work to do before we get back into conference play (Jan. 5 at Pikeville)."
Cumberland's, which will join the Mid-South next season, was led by Simone Ryan's 16.
Clifton was joined in double figures by
Mary Jehlik and Lee with 11 each and
Megan Isaacs with 10.
Campbellsville had its second straight bad night from the field, hitting only 28 percent. The Lady Tigers also committed 20 turnovers.
"The up side is we're trying to feed the post, but the down side is we haven't been doing it very good," said Colvin.
"We've got a really tough road test coming up against a ranked opponent and another receiving votes.
"We're going to give the girls a couple of days off, come back in Wednesday and Thursday and then give them off until the 26th."
The Lady Tigers won't play again until Dec. 30 when they meet William Woods University at 3:00 in the Columbia College Cougars vs. Cancer Invitational. They will have a rematch with Columbia AT 7:00 the following night. There will be no audio of the William Woods game, but audio and live stats links will be provided at www.campbellsvilletigers.com.
Lady Tigers (57) - Jehlik 11, Clifton 15, Lee 11, Isaacs 10, Compton 2, Hellyer 4, Craig 2, Owen 2. Totals 17-61 21-25 57.
Cumberland (45) - Ryan 16, Pace 7, Cowan ,9 Gonzalez 2, Blue 1, Harper 2, Atkinson 8. Totals 20-49 4-10 45.
Half-time - Campbellsville 23-19 Three-point Goals - Campbellsville 42-11 (Clifton 1, Isaacs 1) Cumberland 1-10 (Cowan) . Rebounds - Campbellsville 38 (Jehlik 6, Clifton 10, Craig 6), Cumberland 38 (Ryan 13, Pace 10). Assists - Campbellsville 10 (Lee 3, Allen 4), Cumberland 12 (Cowan 3). Steals - Campbellsville 15 (Lee 3, Owen 3), Cumberland 12 (Ryan 5, Cowan 3).
