McKENZIE, Tenn. — Season openers aren't usually pretty but No. 6 Lady Tiger basketball overcame a slow start to down Blue Mountain College on Thursday evening in the opening game of the Mid-South Conference/Southern States Conference Challenge, 77-52.
 
The Lady Tigers (1-0) started slow but finished strong and used their depth to down the Toppers. Campbellsville out-scored Blue Mountain (0-3) 24-7 in the fourth quarter to run away with the 25-point win.
 
Campbellsville forced 36 turnovers and picked up 33 steals – the 33 steals is the most since playing Harris-Stowe in the Chamber Classic in the very same Crisp Arena in 2014-15.
 
Madison Clements led CU with 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Clements also nailed four of the five 3-point baskets for the Lady Tigers. Clements also came away with a career-high five steals and dished out three assists.
 
Madison Stewart was close behind with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
 
After the slow start in the first quarter and leading by only one, 19-18, the Lady Tigers stepped up their game in the second by forcing eight turnovers. CU finally took its first double-digit lead, 38-28, with 38 seconds left in the half, as Clements made a pair of free throws.
 
Both teams traded baskets in the final possession and CU led 40-30 at the halftime intermission.
 
In the second half, Campbellsville came out on fire with a 10-6 run and led by 14 points, 50-36. But CU went almost four minutes without a point and allowed Blue Mountain right back in the game with a 9-1 run and trailing by only six, 51-45.
 
Dylana Fothergill put CU back ahead by eight, 53-45, after picking up an offensive board and capitalizing with 33 seconds in the third. The big's were the difference with 15 second chance points and CU scored 53 points in the paint.
 
Leading by eight entering the fourth quarter, CU went on a 14-3 run capped by a steal and basket by Madison Faulkner - two of her eight points - giving the Lady Tigers their first 20-point advantage, 67-46 with 3:39 left.
 
CU rolled in the final 3:39 and the night was capped by another Faulkner steal and layup for its largest lead of 25 points, 77-52.
 
Campbellsville will now turn right around and play its second game of the Challenge tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. ET vs. Martin Methodist College. Fans can tune into the CU Sports Network at 3:45 for pregame coverage.

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