CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The second-seeded Lady Tigers hosted the 15-seed Bryan College Lions for the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. The Lady Tigers moved on to the second round of the tournament with a staggering 42-point advantage over the Lions, sinking 11 threes.
- Three Lady Tigers scored double digits throughout the game, each scoring 15 points: Dea Bradley, Whitney Hay, and Paige Serafini.
- Ella House led Campbellsville's with seven rebounds, Tyra Flowers with six assists, and Lainey Johnson four steals.
- Campbellsville's performance outshined Bryan's in all statistical fronts, most significantly: three pointers (11-3), defensive rebounds (32-27), assists (24-13), bench points (38-17), steals (12-7), points off turnovers (23-17), and points in the paint (34-28).
- The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow in the Second Round of the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, hosting the winner between Benedictine and LSU Shreveport tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th at 3 p.m. ET.
Campbellsville set the tone early, earning a strong lead with a 14-0 run in the opening of the first quarter. Bryan's first point of the game was scored from the free-throw line, but Tyra Flowers quickly struck back with a layup. The Lions scored their first field goal of the game at the 4:57 mark, but the Lady Tigers took on seven straight points to extend their lead. Whitney Hay racked up a few points from the charity stripe to push Bryan farther behind in their deficit. With a three-point bucket assisted by Flowers, Paige Serafini closed the first period with Campbellsville leading by 25.
In the opening fifteen seconds of the second quarter, Dea Bradley scored a three-point bucket. After an exchange of free-throws, the game saw a scoring halt with several missed baskets. A few minutes in, Bryan reached double digits on the scoreboard, while Bradley and Serafini brought the Lady Tigers to 44. Hallie Allen and Flowers quickly became crucial forces for Campbellsville, preserving their advantage with relentless offense, as Bryan struggled to contain them. The Lady Tigers control over the ball limited the Lions' chances to score, closing the had with Campbellsville leading by 34.
Johnson began the second half with an avid three-point bucket. Although Bryan's Kaylynn Walls attempted to retaliate in the paint, the Lady Tigers were far too strong for the Lions to stop. With several fouls calls on Bryan, Bradley returned to the charity stripe in a couple occasions, fueling Campbellsville's lead going two-for-two both times. Hay and Serafini's field goals only strengthened the Lady Tigers' momentum, widening the gap on the scoreboard to 40.
Katy Smiley came off the bench to open the final quarter with three points from the free-throw line and in the paint. Bryan attempted to decrease their deficit from beyond the arc, but Campbellsville was quick to one-up them at their every attempt. Jordan Collom and Smiley's strikes from long range showcased the Lady Tigers' insurmountable offense. Campbellsville's lead reached 50 with a layup by Abby Gilbert. The Lions amassed an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the contest, and the game ended 91-49 for Campbellsville.
