CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Caroline Owen rang in the New Year with a 9-for-11 record-breaking performance from the 3-point line, and scored a career-high 27 points tonight in a 92-50 win over Milligan College.
Nearly 300 fans partially filled Powell Athletic Center to witness the record-setting performance.
CU came out of the gates slow but heated up as Owenput the team on her back.
With four minutes remaining on the game clock, Milligan College turned the ball over and Owen snuck open on the left wing. The Carthage, Tenn. junior already had the partially packed crowd in Powell behind her, but the junior spotted up for her record-breaking ninth 3-point basket.
With the ball leaving her hand, every Lady Tiger fan stood with 3-point fingers hoisted in the air. When the ball swished through the net, bedlam erupted in the gym.
"This means so much to me because I was able to have my family in the crowd tonight," said Owen. "I cannot explain what was going through my head, but I would not want to spend this moment with anyone else other than my teammates, coaches, and family."
"This means everything to the program," said Coach Ginger Colvin. "Caroline represents everything this university and our program stands for. She has been the underdog her whole career, but she has a lot of fight in her and it has showed this season."
Milligan dominated the Lady Tigers in every facet of the game early on. The Lady Buffaloes even took a 13-5 lead by using smaller guards to slash in under CU's post players, grabbing offensive rebound after offensive rebound.
"We were not ready for that," saidColvin. "Milligan doesn't start a true post and their smaller players were able to use their quickness to get to some balls early on."
But Campbellsville received the spark it needed as Owen checked in at the 14:28 mark of the first half.
The Lady Tigers went on 9-2 run to bring the game within one point as Mary Jehlik made back-to-back buckets. But with CU trailing by one, Owen came open in the Milligan defense and sank her first 3-point basket to give Campbellsville a two-point lead, a lead it would not relinquish.
Campbellsville went on a 39-6 run in the final 14 minutes, which was led by a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the 3-point line by Owen.
CU was shooting a blistering 6-for-7 (86 percent) as a team from behind the arch and went into the break with a 46-19 lead.
Coming out of the break, Milligan went on a 13-3 run, but Campbellsville stepped up its defensive pressure, getting easy breakaway baskets. But once again, Owen got the Lady Tigers back on track with her hot hand.
Off a made basket by the Lady Buffaloes, Campbellsville pushed the ball back up the court and caught Milligan on its heels. Owen spotted up and hit her fifth 3-pointer.
Owen was not done. In a span of 1:28, she had drilled two more, giving any fan who was thinking of leaving the game early to stick around and possibly witness history.
Within another span of 1:24, Owen had shot three more times and sank all three ending the night with nine 3-point baskets.
"Caroline works harder than everyone else and overachieves in everything we ask," said Colvin. "For two years, she has been a role player for us and I told her to go home last summer and shoot 3s."
And shoot 3s she did. Owen brought Powell Athletic Center to life at the 3:52 mark as she broke the record first set in 1993 by Jody Criswell and tied four other times with the most recent coming last season by Courtney Clifton. Others to have held the mark were: Criswell again in 1993, Melly Heaton in 2007 and Wendi Messer in 2010.
"It all started against Menlo when my confidence started to boost," said Owen. "I was able to get into the flow of the game and things have gone my way ever since."
Since the game in Hawaii, CU has played five games in which Owen is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game.
CU forced 26 turnovers and capitalized on those with 34 points. In the past five games, the Lady Tigers have averaged 25.4 turnovers a game with its season high coming against Bay Path College (45).
"Our defense is coming along and we have extended our pressure out to the half court line," sad Colvin. "We want to use our athleticism and anticipation to force turnovers which lead to fast break opportunities."
Campbellsville finished 2013 on a high note as it is now on a five-game winning streak with its only loss coming to Menlo College in overtime in the Hoop N Surf Classic.
The Lady Tigers will open 2014 on the road as it travels to Columbia, Ky. Thursday, Jan. 2 to play in the Battle of Highway 55 against Lindsey Wilson College. CU leads the series between the two rivals, 47-16.
To follow Lady Tiger Basketball, check them out on Twitter - @LTB_CU and Campbellsville Athletics - @CvilleTigers. Also on Facebook – Campbellsville Tigers.
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