BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The #1 seed Campbellsville University Lady Tigers faced the #16 seed Rochester University Warriors in the NAIA Championship opening round Friday night. After tough, competitive play from both teams, Campbellsville came out on top to advance into round two of competition 85-72.
To begin the tournament, Rochester displayed their intensity with a three-point basket and put themselves ahead. Early on the Warriors were up 7-2, but
Lauren Lee's jumper inched the Lady Tigers closer to eliminating the deficit. Rochester had acquired nine out of their 15 points by shooting 100% from the arc. Campbellsville stopped the Warriors' spree and went on a nine-point run with big threes from
Shyla Calbert and
Maddy Boyle to even the score at 15. After relentless pursuit, the Lady Tigers first lead was accomplished with Lee's two shots from the stripe.
Ashlee McGeorge fought to maintain Campbellsville's lead with her buckets for an end-of-the-quarter score of 23-20.
To begin the second period,
Courtney Pritchett earned the Lady Tigers their largest lead of five with a layup. Her teammates followed behind her to keep the Warriors at a consistent five-point disadvantage.
Sarah Sutton went for back-to-back buckets to propel Campbellsville's lead. Boyle appeared at the charity stripe which boosted Campbellsville's score nine points above Rochester. After a foul, the Warriors trekked toward the Lady Tigers' lead with two free throws. Campbellsville capped off the half leading Rochester by seven.
At the intermission, Lee led the Lady Tiger scorers with ten points and Sutton followed her teammate with eight. Although Campbellsville was shooting at a 50% from the field goal compared to Rochester's 40.6%, the Lady Tigers trailed in three-point field goal percentage (CU 41.7% vs. RU 50%) and from the charity line (CU 66.7% vs. RU 100%).
The Warriors put up a quick five points to begin the second half to trail the Lady Tigers by a basket. Campbellsville answered with a seven-point run of their own via a three-pointer and jump shot delivered from
Bailey Pedigo. Her layup took the Lady Tigers to their first double-digit lead of the contest. Rochester opted for a full-court press accompanied by traps on the ball as their defensive tactic to stave the growing lead. Campbellsville maintained a nine-point advantage over the Warriors as they closed out the third quarter.
In the fourth, Pedigo's layup earned the Lady Tigers their largest lead of 11. Rochester went to the arc as well as the paint to reign in Campbellsville's lead. Intensity was high as free throws from the Warriors cut the Lady Tiger advantage down to five. Boyle sunk a bucket from the right-hand corner and Pritchett capitalized off a turnover to collect a three-point basket for herself. McGeorge's consecutive layups conserved Campbellsville the double-digit lead, and then Pritchett's jumper pushed the lead to 12. The clock dwindled down and the Lady Tigers won the contest 85-72.
As the game concluded, Campbellsville bettered their shooting and bested Rochester in each shooting category: field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free throw percentage. Lee racked up 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds. McGeorge collected another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Boyle tallied 10 points and four assists. Wilks accumulated six rebounds to aid to the 31 total of the Lady Tigers which stood above Rochester's 23 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers will compete Saturday evening against the #8 Benedictine College Ravens. The second round of competition, and final game at the opening round site in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
