FRANKFORT, Ky. — A win is a win, especially when it's in post-season play and that's the only way Campbellsville can look at its semifinal game in the Mid-South Conference. The Lady Tigers beat Cumberland University, 52-45, to move into Sunday's conference title bought.

BOX SCORE
 

"You're right," said Ginger Colvin in her post game interview on 88.7 The Tiger. "A win is a win and we are happy to get win number 29 and now we are looking for 30 tomorrow."

Campbellsville will play the winner of three-seed Shawnee State and seven-seed University of the Cumberlands at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in the championship game.

The weather outside may have been above freezing for the first time since Wednesday but that didn't help Campbellsville and Cumberland University on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Tigers (29-2) started shooting 0-for-11 before Chelsea Craig grabbed an offensive rebound and scored while being fouled. The senior hit the free throw, but the woes continued as Campbellsville would shoot 21.9 percent (7-of-32) in the first half.

Campbellsville finished hitting 27 percent (16-of-59) overall and only 5-of-19 (26 percent) from behind the arc.

"Their guards are really quick," said Colvin. "Cumberland was trapping us all over the floor and we struggled with that pressure. But the thing that hurt them the most was losing forward Brittany Lawson in the first five minutes of the game."

Lawson was injured in the opening minutes and did not return. She averaged 7.1 points a game and is ranked No. 6 in the NAIA with 2.1 blocks per game. Her presence inside the paint was desperately missed.

Campbellsville grabbed a season-high 23 offensive rebounds and scored 14 points off those second chances. Cumberland University also turned the ball over 20 times leading to 15 points off turnovers for Campbellsville.

Cumberland (16-12) did not shoot much better, hitting 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from the floor and only scored one point in the final 7:23 of the first half. The Bulldogs finished 15-of-46 (32.6 percent) and 3-of-12 (25 percent) from 3.

Chelsea Hall led the Bulldogs with more than half of their points, scoring a game-high 25 points. Her free throw with 1:33 left in the first half ended a 5:50 scoreless skid but Campbellsville was able to push its lead to four points, 20-16, at halftime.

Cumberland University ended going without a field goal from the 7:23 mark in the first half until 17:53 left in the second half – only scoring two points from the free throw line.

Campbellsville took advantage in the early stages of the second half, going on a 10-0 run. Caroline Owen knocked down her second 3-pointer and fellow senior Lindey Young picked up an offensive rebound for five-straight points.

Owen led the Lady Tigers with 12 points and hometown player Chelsea Craig finished with 10. Kristen Jacob failed to score but led all rebounders with 11 boards.

The run continued with Madison Clements picking the pocket of Jalita Fason at midcourt and went coast-to-coast for a layup then Daizah Kimberland drilled a 15-footer from the right corner to push CU ahead, 33-21. Lindsey Burd then knocked down a free throw and pushed Campbellsville ahead, 34-21 to cap the run.

"Both seniors stepped up when we needed them," said Colvin. "But when we struggled offensively, our defense stepped up when we needed a lift. Being able to hold Cumberland University to 45 points is a feat in itself."

But even though Campbellsville had a lead the offensive woes continued and the Lady Tigers never could pull comfortably away. Their largest lead in the second half was 13 points at the 4:47 mark.

Cumberland pulled within seven points in the final two minutes but senior guard Caroline Owen hits two free throws and fellow senior Chelsea Craig hit a contested turn-around layup to end the Bulldogs' season.

The championship game will be broadcasted live on 88.7 The Tiger and Live video – HERE.