COLUMBIA, Ky. – As winter weather made its way through South Central Kentucky Monday night, Campbellsville University Lady Tiger basketball did not let the cold come into the Biggers Sports Complex gym in the second half as CU started the final 20 minutes on a 20-0 run and beat Lindsey Wilson College, 75-45.
With the game tied, 32-32, at the half, CU came out of the break and set a flame to the nets. The Lady Tigers went on a 20-0 run and dashed any hopes Lindsey Wilson had of knocking off the seventh ranked team.
"We started out flat in the first half and the first group was not playing with any energy," said Lady Tiger Head Coach Ginger Colvin. "The difference tonight was our bench carried us through the game."
The reserve trio of Lindsey Burd (6), Daizah Kimberland (5) and Angie Lawrence (5) combined for 16 points to carry the Lady Tigers during the 20-point run.
Although CU started out the second half hot, the first half was a total different story. Campbellsville started out just as cold as the 18-degree temperature outside.
The Lady Tigers struggled on the defensive side of the ball as LWC knocked down some contested shots. Also, after CU would get a bucket, it could not hold off Lindsey Wilson as the Blue Raiders came out firing on all cylinders.
Tara Arnold and Jamie Cummings kept LWC in the lead as they scored 18 points in the first 20 minutes. But CU kept the duo in check in the second half as Arnold scored four points and Cummings was scoreless.
Arnold also grabbed three offensive rebounds and led LWC with five at the break. She only was able to grab one more in the second half.
Campbellsville got a lift off the bench as the previously injured guard Lawrence checked into the game and knocked down a big 3-point basket to wake the Lady Tigers up.
"Angie carried us through the first half with 11 points," said Colvin. "She came back strong and picked us up when we needed it."
CU's defense finally got the stop it was looking for as the Lady Tigers rebounded the LWC miss and Katie Allen hit Daizah Kimberland breaking towards to CU basket. Campbellsville knotted the game at 13 with 10:39 remaining in the first half.
Lindsey Wilson's leading rebounder, Chanel Roberts, picked up her third foul with 12 minutes left in the first half and did not return till the start the second half. Roberts ended up picking up her fourth just two minutes into the second half and LWC really struggled without her.
CU took advantage and started to crash the boards.
Burd started to use her athleticism inside the paint. The junior from Munfordville, Ky., grabbed three offensive rebounds but only capitalized on one opportunity as she picked up a Lawrence miss and followed with making a short 5-foot jumper.
Lawrence gave CU its first lead as she deflected a pass on defense and LeeAnn Grider found her on the offensive side for the first of a career high 10 assists. The junior college transfer from Coker College caught the ball in rhythm and knocked down her third 3-point basket. CU led 21-20 with eight minutes left in the half.
Campbellsville ended the first half as Mary Jehlik knocked down a 10-foot jumper from the corner as time expired to tie it at 32.
The Lady Tigers starting five only scored eight points in the first half, while the bench was led by Lawrence's 11 and Burd's six at the break.
Lindsey Wilson only picked up four bench points.
Bench points is nothing new for CU, which has utilized its bench heavily in its previous 12 games, winning games by an average of 37.1 points.
"It's a huge luxury for us to have such a deep bench," said Colvin. "We have been able to play them all year and everyone has contributed so far. It will pay off later in the conference schedule."
Both teams came out of the break and CU started to take over. At the 17-minute mark Ellen Sholtes hit two free throws and Burd pitched in two of her own a few minutes later to kick-start the Lady Tigers.
Campbellsville took advantage of the high defensive pressure from LWC during the 20-0 run and used three back-door cuts and forced the Blue Raiders to think twice about their pressure out by half court.
"Our first group started out flat and we harped to play with energy in the second half," said Colvin. "The girls responded to the half time speech and dominated the final 20 minutes. It was good to be faced with a little adversity and overcome it a way that we did. Shows a lot about our group."
Lawrence finished with a team high 19 points for her first game back from a knee injury. Burd also finished in double figures as she pitched in a career high 18 points and game high 12 rebounds.
Kimberland was next for the Lady Tigers as she finished with nine points and five rebounds.
In the Ginger Colvin era, her teams started out 1-4 against Coach John Wethington and his Blue Raiders but in the final 10 games, CU has dominated. Since the 2009-10 seasons the Lady Tigers have gone 10-0 with an average margin of victory of 20.1 points.
Also, it is the fifth time in rivalry history Campbellsville have won by 30-plus points and second time in the previous three meetings.
Campbellsville will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 4 as CU will travel to Lebanon, Tenn. to face off against No. 22 Cumberland University. Game time is set for 2 p.m. ET. Jay Turner will bring you the action from Cumberland University on 88.7 FM and WLCUFM.com/Sportscasts.
To follow Lady Tiger basketball throughout the rest of the 2013-14 season, check them out on Twitter - @LTB_CU and @CvilleTigers. Also CU is on Facebook – Campbellsville Tigers.
