CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville Lady Tiger Basketball ended an 11-game winning steak on Senior Day, as Shawnee State University took it to CU, outrebounding the Lady Tigers for the second straight meeting and won, 83-60.
"What a disappointment," said Lady Tiger assistant Miranda Denny. "It definitely wasn't a way we wanted to send our four seniors out but it happens, and we just did not perform up to our standards."
Shawnee State jumped out to an 11-9 lead on a made bucket by Ali Zierverink and never looked back in the first half.
Diane Abbady dominated on the offensive side. The senior from West Africa dropped 14 points on CU's 2-3 zone. The Lady Tigers stepped up and applied pressure, but Shawnee State found gaps inside the defense.
Katie Allen kept Campbellsville in the game for the first five-plus minute. The senior from Fort Thomas, Ky. scored 10 of CU's first 14 points. She finished with 12 first half points on 5-for-8 and 2-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc. Daizah Kimberland pitched in eight points and led CU with four rebounds.
"Katie played very well in the opening minutes," said Denney. "She attacked early on and hit two big 3-pointers to set the pace. "
Shawnee out rebounded Campbellsville 24-18 in the first half, including eight offensive boards, which led to eight points. Tabby McKinney recorded two and scored on both. Catrice Mitchell also picked up two offensive rebounds.
"We got hurt bad on the boards. I am not sure if it was the emotion of the night or what but the first half was one of the poorest we have played all season."
SSU picked up its largest lead on two free throws by McKinney and ended the half leading 42-30. Alannah Sheets came in leading the Mid-South Conference in scoring at 20 points a game. The senior scored 12 first half points.
"We just got outplayed in the post," said Denny. "We (coaches) have said it all year that Shawnee State has one of the best post games in the conference. They showed it today with their athleticism and quickness."
Campbellsville started the second half with six straight points on a Lindsey Burd lay up and free throw, and then a Kimberland layup. With the lead cut to seven points, 43-36, Shawnee State scored five straight to get the lead back to 11.
But the Lady Tigers roared back with a 10-2 run to cut the lead to just three points, 49-46. LeeAnn Grider scored four points on two free throws and a driving layup to force Shawnee States head coach, Jeff Nickel to call a time out.
His team answered, though, with a run of its own. Priscilla Santos scored six of the SSU's nine points to push the lead back to 12 points, 58-46.
Ellen Sholtes ended a four-plus minute scoreless skid for the Lady Tigers, as she drove to the basket and was fouled by Santos. She hit 1-of-2 free throws.
Shawnee State ended the game scoring 32 of the final 49 points. Sheets ended the game right at her average, 20 points. Abbady was next, as she finished with 17. McKinney tied a career-high 15 rebounds.
"We didn't attack their post players like we did earlier in the season," said Denney. "When we miss shots early on or something does not go our way we start to settle and we definitely did that today. We need to continue to attack and play our game instead of worrying about a missed call or shot."
Allen led CU overall with 16 points, but only four in the second half. She also dished out six assists. Kimberland pitched in 14 points, six in the second half. Burd and Caroline Owen finished with nine and eight points, respectively. Burd also finished with a team-leading eight rebounds.
Campbellsville has now been outrebounded four times this season, all against its MSC opponents from Ohio, Rio Grande and Shawnee State.
The loss is CU's largest since the 2013 NAIA Touranment, when Campbellsville was defeated by Freed-Hardman, 71-52, to end the season.
Despitee the loss, CU maintains a two-game lead atop the Mid-South Conference standings with a 13-2 record. No. 8 Georgetown College (second in MSC) lost to University of Pikeville, 77-73, and No. 21, Universty of the Cumberlands (third in MSC) was defeated by Bluefield College, 76-71.
The Lady Tigers move to one game under .500, 8-9, against the SSU Bears overall and 2-4 in Powell Athletic Center.
Campbellsville (23-3, 13-2 MSC) will travel to St. Catharine College on Thursday night to play in a double header with the men's team. Tip offs are schedule for 6 and 8 PM ET.
You can follow Lady Tiger Basketball throughout the rest of the 2013-14 season on Twitter - @LTB_CU and @CvilleTigers and Facebook – Campbellsville Tigers.
