CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – With the new basketball season tipping off all around the nation this week, ninth-ranked Campbellsville left no doubt as to how it would start the 2013-14 season. The Lady Tigers downed Midway College in grand fashion by doubling their opponent's score and breaking the Lady Tiger modern-day scoring record, 126-62.
Campbellsville went on an early 18-2 run in the first half and left Midway in its dust. Junior transfer Angie Lawrence led CU as she made three 3-point baskets in that four-minute span. She finished the night 3-of-6 from the arc.
The Lady Tigers never looked back as they were up by 17 points at that juncture. Midway never had an answer for the pressure by Campbellsville as CU recorded 10 steals, five coming from true freshman LeeAnn Grider.
"I am pleased overall," said Lady Tiger head coach Ginger Colvin. "Without coming into the game with any sort of scrimmage or game against another opponent and have us play that well is definitely how we wanted to start the season."
Campbellsville came into the night with a 25-9 record in season openers and the Lady Tigers didn't disappoint the fans who packed Powell Athletic Center.
There was a lot of excitement for the fans to be involved in as CU came out firing with all cylinders. Campbellsville shot the ball well, hitting 5-of-11 3-point baskets in the first half. CU was also getting easy buckets in transition because of the four-guard rotation Colvin used to lessen the pressure Midway came with from the beginning.
"They pressed the whole game, and we knew our guard play had to come up big," said Colvin. "We kept four guards in the game for most of the first half until we got a comfortable lead and went back to our normal rotation."
Lawrence led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 27 points in just 16 minutes of play. The 27 points tied her career high that she set at Georgetown College (Ky.) during the 2012 NAIA DI Championships. The Brodhead, Ky., native went to GC coming out of high school but transferred to Coker College for her sophomore season. After Campbellsville lost 2013 graduate Courtney Clifton, the Lady Tigers needed a threat from the outside and Lawrence was the answer.
"I give the credit to our girls tonight as they found Angie while she had the hot hand," said Colvin. "It's great to have someone come in right away and be a major force on the offensive side."
With 100 points on the horizon, Lady Tiger guard Caroline Owen hit two 3-pointers at the 8:48 mark to get CU right at 100. It was the first time since 2011 when CU scored 100 points vs. University of Virginia at Wise (107-78). Owen made her first collegiate start in the game and recorded a career-high 13 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from the 3-point arc.
As Campbellsville passed 100 points, the chatter started to see if CU would catch the modern-day scoring record set in 2010 of 124 points in a single game. The Lady Tigers tied that record on a lay up by Lindey Young and eclipsed the 124 mark with a basket by freshman Macie Spence.
Lindsey Burd also made the record book as she recorded her first double-double with career highs in points (12) and rebounds (11).
Another Lady Tiger who surpassed her career high in scoring was sophomore forward Kristen Jacob. She recorded 10 points.
Ellen Sholtes was another Lady Tiger who recorded double-digit points as she tied her career high with 17 points. Sholtes also dished out three assists and recorded two steals. Lindsey Ramage also tied her career-high of six points in the win.
CU had six ladies in double-figures, with senior guard Katie Allen being the other with 12 points. This is the first time any Ginger Colvin team has had six scorers with at least 10 points and the first time for the program since January 2006.
Although, Campbellsville put on a show from the floor, shooting 66.7 percent, the Lady Tigers struggled from the charity line, as they were 13-of-23 (56 percent).
"I believe it was more of the first-game jitters," said Colvin. "We just need to get our feet under us and we'll be fine the rest of the season."
Campbellsville (1-0) will remain at home for its next matchup on Friday, Nov. 8 when Brescia University comes to town. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Powell Athletic Center.
To follow CU Lady Tiger Basketball and all Campbellsville University Athletic, check them out on Twitter, @CvilleTigers and Facebook.
BOX SCORE
NOTES
- Season opener for both teams.
- The game was the first varsity basketball game played on the newly designed court in Powell Athletic Center.
- CU is now 25-1 against Midway all-time.
- 126 points is a the most in a game since the shot clock and 3-point shot were added
- CU's overall single-game scoring record was 128 points against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1976.
- The last time CU had six players score double digits was Jan. 7, 2006, when six combined for 80 points in a 103-21 win over Knoxville College.
- Junior transfer Angie Lawrence tied her collegiate career-high with 27 points in her CU debut. Lawrence went to high school at Rockcastle County, and played at Georgetown College in 2011-12 and Coker College in 2012-13. Ellen Shotes (17) and Lindsey Ramage (6) also tied their career highs.
- Junior guard Caroline Owen (Carthage, Tenn.) received her first collegiate start and had a collegiate career-high 13 points.
- Sophomore Kristen Jacob (Lexington Christian HS) had a collegiate career-high 10 points.
- Sophomore Lindsey Burd (Hart County) had her first collegiate double-double with a career-high 12 points and career-high 11 rebounds.
- Redshirt freshman Abby Miller (Cookeville, Tenn.), freshmen Macie Spence (Montgomery County HS), Madison Clements (Monroe County HS) and LeeAnn Grider (Russell County HS) made their collegiate debuts.
