CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The #3 Campbellsville University Lady Tigers hosted the #5 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions on Saturday afternoon for a highly anticipated Top-5 Mid-South Conference showdown. Despite controlling the interior and outscoring the Lady Lions 30-20 in the paint, Campbellsville struggled to contain Freed-Hardeman's perimeter shooting in the second half, falling 67-56.
- Three Lady Tigers scored in double figures: Whitney Hay led the way with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Tyra Flowers and Dea Bradley added 11 points each.
- Tyra Flowers was a force on the glass, leading the team with six rebounds, while Abby Gilbert anchored the defense with two blocks.
- Campbellsville dominated the interior, holding a 30-20 advantage in points in the paint, but struggled from deep, shooting just 23.1% (3-of-13) compared to Freed-Hardeman's 40.9% (9-of-22).
- Hallie Allen dished out a team-high three assists and connected on two clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
- The Lady Tigers will look to bounce back on the road, traveling to Lebanon, Tennessee, to take on the Cumberland University Phoenix on Thursday, January 22nd, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Freed-Hardeman's Brooklyn Crouch opened the scoring with a three-pointer, setting the tone for a physical first quarter. The game began methodically, with both defenses forcing turnovers early.
Whitney Hay,
Paige Serafini, and
Tyra Flowers helped the Lady Tigers settle in, trading baskets to keep the Lady Lions within reach. While Freed-Hardeman found success from deep, the Lady Tigers attacked the rim, earning trips to the free-throw line to build an 18-14 lead after one.
The second quarter turned into a defensive grind.
Ella House and
Abby Gilbert provided a spark off the bench with back-to-back layups to open the period. Freed-Hardeman struggled to find the bottom of the net until the midway point, when Lilly Kee converted consecutive layups.
Dea Bradley and Flowers elevated Campbellsville's pressure in the paint, but offensive rhythm was hard to come by for both squads. The teams combined for just 18 points in the quarter, and Campbellsville carried a slim 26-24 advantage into the locker room.
Freed-Hardeman emerged from halftime with a hot hand, using the three-ball to swing momentum. Although
Hallie Allen found Hay for a layup to keep the offense moving, the Lady Lions' perimeter shooting became the difference-maker. Freed-Hardeman connected on multiple triples in the third, outscoring Campbellsville 20-14 in the frame to take a 44-40 lead heading into the deciding quarter.
Hay opened the fourth quarter with a jumper to tie the game at 44-44. After the Lady Lions briefly reclaimed the lead, Allen drained her first three-pointer of the night to vault the Lady Tigers back in front, 47-46. The teams traded leads in a tense final stretch, but a critical three-pointer from Freed-Hardeman's Carissa Curtis shifted the advantage back to the visitors. Allen responded with another triple to keep hope alive, but the Lady Lions sealed the game at the charity stripe. Forced to foul late, Campbellsville watched Freed-Hardeman convert their free throws to close out the 67-56 victory.
