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Campbell University

Women's Basketball Wins A Late Thriller Over Iona, 58-57

BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Senior Marlena Murphy banked in a layup with only 11 second left in the game to give Campbell women's basketball team (5-5) a thrilling 58-57 victory over visiting Iona (4-6) on Saturday evening at Carter Gym. The win snapped Campbell's season long three-game losing skid.

Murphy would finish her evening with 15 points and 14 rebounds, but none proved to be more vital than her last-minute bucket. The senior has now tallied 21 double-doubles in her career including five in her last six games. Murphy carried the team in crunch time and scored the basket that tied the game at 53 and tallied an assist on junior Laura Arthur's three-point field goal that gave the Camels a brief 56-55 lead. Murphy totaled a season-high four assists in the game.

Arthur had steady performance for the Camels with 11 points and five assists. Gara Bell tied her season-high with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field. She also ripped down seven rebounds, had three assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore Lindsay Smithberger came off the bench and dished out a team-high six assists. Junior Jessica Mack had another solid effort for Campbell with nine points and two steals.

The game was only of momentum swings with the Camels not scoring their first points of the afternoon until a made Murphy free throw at the 13:42 mark, at which point the Gaels had already buildup a 10-point advantage. The CU offense then stormed back and went on a 14-0 run capped off by the second of two made free throws from Smithberger. Iona then went on its own 7-1 run finished off by a Lauren DeFalco made jumper. It was then the Camels turn again and they went on a 7-0 rally to take a six-point lead. The Gaels were able to go a run of their own just before the break to close the gap to three, 25-22. Arthur led CU with six points at the break with senior Lauren Graham contributing four valuable points off the bench. DeFalco tallied five points to lead the Gaels at the intermission.

After the half, Iona's Tiara Headen would put tally 15 of her 20 points to spearhead the Gaels attack. The game's second stanza saw eight tied scores and six lead changes until Murphy's layup gave Campbell the lead for good. The Gaels were able to set up a shot attempt by senior Thazina Cook in the closing seconds, but Mack was able to secure the rebounding to give CU the victory.

For Iona College, Anna McLean also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with just over three minutes to go in the game (3:16). DeFalco had a game-high seven helpers for the Gaels.

Campbell finished with 38-35 advantage on the boards against the taller Gaels. CU also hit 15-of-20 free throws and scored 30 of their 58 points in the paint. The Gaels shot 22-of-56 from the floor (39.3) to CU's 20-of-53 (37.7)

The Lady Camels will play one more game before a short holiday break against North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, Dec. 19 in Greensboro at 7 p.m.

Notes:Murphy has led the team in rebounding five times this season with all but one of the efforts being in double-digits ... Mack has scored nine points in each of her last three games ... Campbell has outrebounded its opponents in six of the ten games this season ... CU is 3-0 on Saturday's this season ... the team is also 4-0 when it takes a lead into the intermission.

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Players Mentioned

Gara Bell

#40 Gara Bell

C
6' 0"
Redshirt
Jessica Mack

#11 Jessica Mack

G
5' 6"
Junior
Lindsay Smithberger

#21 Lindsay Smithberger

F
5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Gara Bell

#40 Gara Bell

6' 0"
Redshirt
C
Jessica Mack

#11 Jessica Mack

5' 6"
Junior
G
Lindsay Smithberger

#21 Lindsay Smithberger

5' 10"
Sophomore
F