KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The #1 Lady Tigers took the road to battle against the #7 University of Rio Grande RedStorm on Friday night. After trailing by one in the first quarter, Campbellsville's offense proved too strong for the RedStorm, winning the game 94-59.
Lauren Lee got the action started with a layup assisted by Maddy Boyle. The RedStorm wasted little time striking back with a three-point bucket. In response, Boyle, Lee, and Kaitlynn Wilks earned Campbellsville an early hold on the lead. However, Rio Grande's offense did not give up and continued to attack the Lady Tigers' end of the court, claiming the lead. Shortly after, Bailey Pedigo stood at the charity stripe, going two-for-two, and recovered the advantage for Campbellsville. With the score tied at 18, but Whitney Hay stole the ball and agilely passed it to Pedigo, resulting in a Lady Tiger layup. With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, the RedStorm sank a three-pointer, ending the first quarter with the Lady Tigers trailing 21-20.
Courtney Pritchett opened the second quarter with a three-point bucket assisted by Pedigo. Not long after, the RedStorm scored, but Pritchett hit back with another jumper followed by her second three of the game. Lee and Boyle's steals displayed the Lady Tigers' control over the ball and the RedStorm struggled to recover from the detriment. Campbellsville kept Rio Grande to a paltry 18.1% (4-22) shooting in the quarter while they eclipsed 60% from the field with their 11-18 shooting. The Lady Tiger offense racked up basket after basket, increasing Rio Grande's deficit to 20 points. In the last couple of minutes of the quarter, Hay netted her first three-pointer of the season. At the end of the first half, the Lady Tigers held the advantage, 54-34.
Going into the last twenty, Campbellsville exceeded the RedStorm in terms of their bench points (16 to six), rebounds (29 to 17).
Boyle made the first basket of the third quarter and then Pedigo sntached her first steal of the game, passing the ball to Lee for a quality jumper. The Lady Tigers came into the second half with fierce offensive plays, racking up baskets and offensive rebounds without stop. A few fouls from the RedStorm resulted in Campbellsville at the free-throw line, amplifying Rio Grande's disadvantage on the score. The Lady Tigers outscored the RedStorm 28-10 in the frame. Going into the last quarter, the Lady Tigers remained on the lead, 82-44.
Much like the first, Lee scored the first jumper of the last quarter within the first eight seconds of play. The RedStorm attempted to gain control over the score, but Pritchett's defensive rebounds kept Campbellsville ending Rio Grande's possessions. Tyra Flowers and Kayla Luebbe came off the bench with steadfast attacks from the interior, racking up baskets for the Lady Tigers. Campbellsville emerged with the convincing victory, 94-59.
At the end of the game, Campbellsville had three big advantages over Rio Grande: 51% shooting to their 32%, 52 rebounds to their 30, and 50 points in the paint to their 28. Four Lady Tigers finished the game with double digits, Lee and Hay with 19 points each, Pritchett with 13, and Wilks and Luebbe with 11 apiece.
The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, November 25th for their second day in Kingsport, Tennessee going against the Union College Bulldogs beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET.
