MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The #3 Lady Tigers went down to Alabama to take on the Faulkner University Eagles Saturday for their first game of 2024. The Lady Tigers, led by Maddy Boyle's career-high 31 points and program-record-tying nine three's, unleashed from three going 16-23 and winning by more than 30, 95-63.
From the tip, the Lady Tigers racked up three-pointer after three-pointer, widening their lead over the Eagles. Campbellsville's defense, alongside Faulkner's 16% scoring percentage from the field and no successful attempts from the charity stripe or the three-point line, prevented the Eagles from hitting more baskets until the period's last two minutes. At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Tigers held a 21-point advantage, 25-4.
Campbellsville began the second quarter with three back-to-back buckets from Courtney Pritchett, Kaitlynn Wilks, and Boyle. Faulkner only made it to double digits on the scoreboard halfway through the second quarter, with the Lady Tigers leading by 20 points. At the end of the first half, Campbellsville remained on the winning end of the score, 42-26.
At halftime, Campbellsville more than doubled Faulkner both from the field, going 18-of-28 (64.3%) compared to their 9-of-20 (30.0%), from the three-point line, going 5-of-7 (71.4%) to their 3-of-14 (21.4%), and collecting 22 rebounds to their ten.
The opening minutes of the third quarter consisted of back-and-forth buckets between the teams. Throughout the quarter's development, both teams benefited from various opportunities at the charity stripe. Bailey Pedigo attacked the Eagles with a three-pointer aided by Lauren Lee's seventh assist of the game. Tyra Flowers' defensive rebounds kept the Lady Tigers' plays in the lead. Campbellsville still led the game in the last quarter, 76-44.
Much like the third, the Lady Tigers and the Eagles exchanged a couple of buckets back and forth in the game's opening seconds. The scoring plays from both teams came to a halt in the following minutes of the quarter until Faulkner stood at the free-throw line halfway through the last 10 minutes of the game. Sarah Sutton came off the bench with two three-point jumpers aided by Bree Gowdy's first two assists of the contest. Boyle closed the game with her ninth three-point bucket of the game, ending in another Lady Tiger victory, 95-63.
At the end of the game, Boyle recorded three new career highs with 31 points, 11 field goals, and nine three-pointers. She tied Caroline Owen and Lexy Lake for the Lady Tigers' record for three-pointers made in a contest. Two other Lady Tigers also reached double digits during the game: Kayla Luebbe with 12 points and Wilks with 11. As a team, Campbellsville more than doubled Faulkner with 29 defensive rebounds to their 12. Additionally, the Lady Tigers collected significantly more bench points, collecting 39 to their 20.
The Lady Tigers will be traveling to Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Thursday, January 11th, to go against the University of the Cumberlands Patriots beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
