NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After a memorable trip to the nation's 50th state, Campbellsville University Lady Tiger Basketball came back to the mainland and dominated in their first game after Christmas, beating Bay Path College, 95-33
Campbellsville came into the game averaging 13 steals per game and the Lady Tigers showed why they are ranked No. 10 in the nation in that category. CU recorded 24 steals and forced 45 turnovers.
CU's one-three-one defensive zone was giving the Wildcats a lot of trouble early, as seniors Mary Jehlik and Ellen Sholtes set the tone.
With the six foot-three inch Jehlik at the top of the zone, the smaller guards were having trouble seeing over the Mt. Sterling, Ky. product.
Sholtes, and fellow senior Hayley Hellyer, were able to step into the passing lanes four times within the first two minutes of the game and got the Lady Tigers on the board with break-away layups.
"We came into the tournament wanting to work on our defenses we haven't played much," said Coach Ginger Colvin. "We have a great advantage of having Mary Jehlik at the point of the zone and allows us to use many variations of zones throughout the game."
Bay Path College (MA.) scored a season-low 10 points at the break as CU forced 28 turnovers. The Lady Tigers also scored 28 points off those turnovers.
The 10 points scored by the Wildcats is the lowest total Campbellsville has allowed since the 2008-09 season when West Virginia Technical Institute scored nine.
The lowest first-half total allowed by CU is four points against Knoxville College in 2006.
Caroline Owen led the Lady Tigers with eight points in the first half and she hit two of the three made 3-point baskets by CU.
The second half was much like the first as the Wildcats could not seem to compete with the much more physical and athletic Lady Tigers.
Bay Path shot under its season average, as it was only 12-for-40 from the field (30 percent).
Kayla Skiffington scored seven points for Bay Path but the highlight of the day for the Wildcats was off a 3-point shot from LeShawnda Underwood. She was fouled on a three-point shot and sank the bucket. But the sophomore from Holyoke, MA. could not convert the unconventional four-point play.
Katie Allen led all scorers with 15 points on 3-for-4 shooting from behind the arch and 6-for-7 from the field.
Caroline Owen and Abby Miller also chipped in nine points for CU. The redshirt freshman from Livingston, Tenn. recorded her career high that was previously set against Brescia University earlier this season.
Campbellsville shared the workload as all players played in the game and every team member scored; which is the third time this season.
Campbellsville moves to 9-1 on the year while Bay Path drops to 3-6.
The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they will face Hiwassee College in the final game of the Music City Classic. Tune into WLCUFM.com as Jay Turner will bring you the play-by-play from Moore Gymnasium on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University.
To follow Lady Tiger Basketball throughout the rest of the season check them out on Twitter @LTB_CU and also Campbellsville Athletics @CvilleTigers.
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