CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The #1 Lady Tigers hosted the (RV) Southeastern University Fire Thursday night. Campbellsville defeated Southeastern with more than double their points in the paint, 80-55.
Southeastern was first to gain possession of the ball at tip-off, but their first attempt at the score was unsuccessful. Courtney Pritchett made the game's first bucket with a three-pointer. As the Lady Tigers reached double digits on the scoreboard, the Fire had only scored one basket in their favor. Responding, Maddy Boyle, Tyra Flowers, and Whitney Hay's defensive rebounds kept the Lady Tigers' advantage intact, ending Southeastern possessions. Campbellsville led the game at the end of the first quarter, 17-11.
In the opening seconds of the second period, the Fire attempted to use a missed basket from the Lady Tigers for a chance at the score, but Boyle sneakily stole the ball and sank a layup. Not long after, Pritchett made her second three-pointer of the game, assisted by Lauren Lee. Southeastern collected a few more points in their favor, but as Hay collected her fourth defensive rebound of the game, the Lady Tigers continued to regain control over the ball. Maddie Nalley came off the bench with a layup assisted by Hay, widening Campbellsville's advantage. In the last couple of minutes of the quarter, both teams kept going back and forth for control over the ball, racking up steals after turnovers, until Nalley scored another jumper assisted by Elizabeth Bertram. At the end of the first half, the Lady Tigers remained in the lead, 35-23.
Going into the second half, Campbellsville had held Southeastern to 29.6% shooting. The Lady Tigers collected 16 points in the paint to the Fire's six and 17 rebounds to their 13.
Partly through the third, Hay came off the bench to stand at the charity stripe for Pedigo, going two-for-two and expanding the Lady Tigers' upper hand. Pritchett made her fourth three-point bucket of the game, aided by Lee's fourth assist of the night. Although the Fire attempted to catch up with Campbellsville, the Lady Tigers' tenacious defense did not allow Southeastern's offensive efforts to persevere. Within the last three minutes of the third quarter, Luebbe landed three layups for Campbellsville, increasing the Lady Tigers' advantage over the Fire to 27 points, their largest lead in the game, 62-35.
For the final period, Wilks battled through contact and hit an and-one. Pritchett swiftly handled the ball down the court for her fifth three-pointer of the night, assisted by Boyle. Luebbe came off the bench with two back-to-back layups with Flowers' fourth assist of the night. Rachel Presley made her first appearance of the contest at the charity stripe, collecting another point for Campbellsville's lead. At the end of the game, the Lady Tigers took down Southeastern, 80-55.
At the end of the game, the Lady Tigers defeated the Fire in a few statistical categories, most noticeably with 38 points in the paint to their 16, 31 rebounds to their 20, and 11 steals to their six. A couple of players recorded new season-highs, Hay with eight rebounds and Pritchett with five three-pointers. Four players reached double digit scoring in the contest: Wilks with 16, Pritchett with 15, Luebbe with 14, and Hay with 10.
The Lady Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, December 2nd, hosting the Stephens College Stars beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
