McKENZIE, Tenn. — Lady Tiger basketball had to overcome a very slow start to their season but fought off a very athletic Harris-Stowe team on Friday night, 65-58.

Campbellsville (1-0) finished hitting just 38 percent from the floor but that was up from a measly 29 percent in the first half. The Lady Tigers improved by shooting 45 percent in the second half and picked up defensive stops down the stretch to hold the Hornets to only seven fourth-quarter points.

Senior Emily Fox led the Lady Tigers with 15 points – nine of those from the free throw line (9-of-10) and also a pair of 3s for her total.

Redshirt junior Madison Clements pitched in 13 points and Queralt Coll Prades finished with 12 off the bench in her Lady Tiger debut. Prades also led CU with seven rebounds in 26-plus minutes of play.

The first half was all Harris-Stowe, as the Hornets came out pestering CU on the defensive side of the ball and the Lady Tigers were unable to get into their offense. After taking the opening tip to the basket for a layup, the Hornets led all the way until the 7:42 mark in the fourth quarter when CU took its first lead, 52-51.

Harris-Stowe turned the Lady Tigers over 13 times in that first half and scored 12 points off those CU mishaps. Angela Randall seemed to be too much for the top of CU's 1-3-1 twilight zone and was able to get inside the lane at will, scoring 14 first-half points – all of those inside the paint.

The Hornets ended up taking their largest lead of 14 points with 1:52 remaining in the first half but CU held Harris-Stowe scoreless the rest of the half and Fox nailed both of her 3s (back-to-back) to cut into the lead, 34-26 at the intermission.

The third quarter was all Campbellsville. The Lady Tigers came out hot by doubling up the Hornets with a 12-6 run and cutting the deficit to just two points, 40-38. Campbellsville ended up out-scoring HSSU 21-17 in that third quarter before dominating in the fourth.

The Lady Tigers picked up multiple stops in the fourth quarter when they needed it, as senior Abby Miller was a pesky defender causing havoc all night. Harris-Stowe ended the night with 29 turnovers, but seven of those were offensive charges – five of those to Miller's credit.

But it was fellow senior point guard LeeAnn Grider stepping up for CU on the offensive end of the floor. Out of a timeout, Clements found Grider on a backdoor cut that lit a spark for Campbellsville and gave the Lady Tigers their first lead, 52-51, with 7:42 left in the game.

Campbellsville ended going on a 13-0 run midway through the decisive quarter and Harris-Stowe was unable to recover after going scoreless for almost six minutes spanning the third and fourth frames. The first basket for the Hornets in the fourth quarter came with 5:02 remaining.

The Hornets wouldn't go away, though. Asia Green cut the lead back to three, 61-58 with 1:45 left but CU picked up a few more stops late and Fox iced the game by hitting four of her nine free throws to seal the win.

After only scoring five points off 14 Harris-Stowe turnovers in the first half, Campbellsville capitalized with 18 second-half points off a Hornet miscue. Harris-Stowe dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Campbellsville, 42-28.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday in the 4^th Annual Chamber Classic hosted by Bethel University, as CU will take on Hiwassee College at 4 p.m. ET. Harris-Stowe will play the host Wildcats at 6 p.m. ET.

Fans can follow along on the CU Sports Network starting at 3:45 p.m. ET.