CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – #3 Lady Tiger Basketball closed out the 2023 athletics calendar with a 85-44 victory over the Pikeville Bears Saturday afternoon. Campbellsivlle had five finish in double-figure scoring.

The contest began a bit slowly offensively, but as both teams went stagnant, Campbellsville switched up their defensive scheme and went on a 9-3 run. Kaitlynn Wilks kept getting doubled following her 3-3 start and was then able to find the back door open for her teammates on ensuing possessions. At 15-6 in the Lady Tigers' favor, the Bears tpok a timeout. Nearing the end of the first period, 14 of Campbellsville's first 20 points were in the paint.

Entering the second quarter up 22-8, the Lady Tigers rattled off an 8-0 run. Up to that point, Campbellsville had held Pikeville to just 27% shooting while also outrebounding them 27-11. Furthermore, the Lady Tigers turned the ball over just three times and forced the Bears to cough it up eight. Campbellsville was defending without fouling too, keeping Pikeville from going to the line except for a single time and even then, the Bears were unable to connect from the charity stripe. At the half, both Maddy Boyle and Lauren Lee had ten points while Wilks had nine and paced the team with her seven rebounds.

The second half saw Campbellsville carry over their clamp-down defensive pressure, allowing Pikeville to shoot just over 31% from the field (in total, the Bears were 29.3% on field goal attempts for the game). The Lady Tigers consistently passed up good shots for great ones, sharing the wealth with their teammates offensively. Because the Bears were doubling the post player, the weak side was left open time and time again and, more often than not, the Lady Tiger forwards and centers found the open player for the easy basket. At the final horn, Campbellsville had 27 team assists, 50 points in the paint, 29 bench points, 27 points off turnovers, and a 85-44 win.

The Bears were limited to just six second-chance points and no fast break points at all. Kayla Luebbe ended up with the team-high 17 points off the bench while teammates Boyle (16), Wilks (15 and a team-leading 11 rebounds), Lee (12), and Whitney Hay (10) all were in double-digit scoring. Hay also led the squad with seven assists .

Campbellsville will open up the new year on January 6th in Montgomery, Alabama. when they match up with Faulkner University at 1 p.m. ET.