CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- The #3 Campbellsville Lady Tigers hosted the #8 Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions in the Powell Athletic Center on Thursday, meeting for their second match-up of the conference slate. The Lady Tigers dropped their second straight game, falling 62-52.
Paige Serafini got an early steal leading to a Whitney Hay free throw line jumper for the Lady Tigers' first bucket. On the next possession, Lauren Lee drained a shot-clock-beating three to give Campbellsville an early advantage. The Lady Lions responded, jumping to an 8-5 lead until Dea Bradley made a mid-range shot to stop the Freed-Hardeman run. Defense proved to be key as the Lady Lions forced four Campbellsville turnovers, taking an 18-9 lead at the end of the first.
The Lady Tigers started the second quarter with a bucket as Serafini cashed out for her first of the game. Freed-Hardeman scored two straight baskets after, but Talynne Shearer kept Campbellsville in it with a layup. Shearer also picked up an assist to Hallie Allen, who put the Lady Tigers within five. Campbellsville scored 14 points in the second quarter but continued to trail the Lady Lions 29-23 to head into the second half.
Freed-Hardeman began the third quarter with two quick field goals, but a Maddie Nalley layup got the Lady Tigers on the board. The Lady Lions ballooned their lead to 11 going into the first timeout. With Freed-Hardeman looking to build momentum, Tyra Flowers amped up the defensive intensity with a block and steal on back-to-back possessions. After a six-minute scoring drought, Campbellsville got back on the board with Flowers and Lee hitting shot after shot. Hay got back on track with two straight layups, cutting the Lady Lions lead to seven. After the final minutes of the third quarter, the scoreboard read 44-37 in favor of Freed-Hardmen.
Shearer continued to help the Lady Tigers, putting Campbellsville on the board first in the final quarter with a mid-range jumper. The Lady Lions responded with a three to push their lead to ten. Lee put in a layup to get the lead down to seven, but Freed-Hardeman responded with two timely three-pointers to go up 13. With under a minute left to play, Shearer grabbed an offensive rebound, making the basket. Unfortunately, the Lady Lions continued to lead by 11. Campbellsville struggled from the field, leading to a 62-52 defeat.
The Lady Tigers will return on Saturday, February 8th, hitting the road to face the Cumberland University Phoenix.
• Two Lady Tigers reached double digits throughout the game: Lee scored 13 points, and Shearer scored 14.
• Despite falling to Freed-Hardeman, Campbellsville surpassed the Lady Lions in a couple of statistical categories: bench points (20-14), points off turnovers (17-14), and offensive rebounds (15-8).
• Tonight's loss marks Campbellsville's first defeat against Freed-Hardeman since 2023, with today being the sixth loss against the Lady Lions.
