Box Score INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Campbellsville has used its size and depth all year to take advantage of smaller opponents but the Lady Tigers met their match in the NAIA National Championship game. Campbellsville came up one game short, finishing NAIA national runner-up to Oklahoma City University, 80-63.
The national tournament run was the furthest by any Campbellsville University team in history.
"Oklahoma City is a really nice team," said CU head coach Ginger Colvin. "I think it would have taken a near perfect game for us to beat them."
OCU used its size and quickness to run past the Lady Tigers, winning its second-consecutive national title, third in four years and eighth overall.
The name of the game for OCU was offensive rebounding. Campbellsville was able to cut the lead to 11 twice on 3-pointers by Madison Clements midway through the second half but OCU picked up timely offensive boards and capitalized on each of them.
Oklahoma City's Rateska Brown hit a 3-pointer with 3:44 remaining in the first half and the Lady Tigers were never able to cut the double figure lead any lower.
Campbellsville did cut the deficit to as little as 10, with 3:47 remaining in the game, but then the Stars did what they do best. Marisha Wallace picked up an offensive rebound and was fouled. She hit two free throws to push the lead back to 12, and Campbellsville never got closer.
The Stars outrebounded the Lady Tigers 56 to 24. Oklahoma City picked up 27 offensive rebounds in the title game and scored 16 second-chance points. It was the lowest rebound total for the Lady Tigers since March 15, 2013 in the NAIA Tournament against Freed-Hardeman University.
"They are super athletic from the point guard position to the center spot," said Colvin. "Everything we did to cut the lead, they countered with their size, athleticism and quickness. We didn't do the fundamental things, and we were outrebounded almost every game in this tournament. But we will use this to make us better and come back for another run."
OCU's Rateska Brown led all scorers with 29 points and hit all eight of free throws. Ouleymatou Coulibaly finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for her 13th double double.
"They both are just really good," said Colvin. "Brown is one of the best scorers I have seen. Coulibaly is so explosive in the paint and when she isn't able to finish to can pick up her own miss and capitalize."
Campbellsville on the other hand saw one of its seniors go out with her best offensive performance in the tournament. Lindey Young scored 16 points to lead the Lady Tigers off the bench.
"Lindey and Chelsea Craig have both been hampered with a knee injury," said Colvin. "But the way she went out in the national championship is special, and she will never forget that."
Craig was named the NAIA National Tournament 110% Award winner. Fellow senior Caroline Owen was named to the All-Tournament Second Team and junior Lindsey Burd picked up All-Tournament First Team honors.
The four seniors, Craig, Owen, Young and Daizah Kimberland all played their final game in a Lady Tiger uniform but Colvin said this tournament run summed up the heart and fight those four had.
"This tournament run sums these seniors up," said Colvin. "They have led their team to a national final. It's because of their leadership and what they have gone through the past four years at Campbellsville University."
Campbellsville ends its season with a 33-4 record tying the most wins and most games played in program history. The Lady Tigers also won their 18th conference regular season title en route to their tournament run.
