BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell jumped all over
conference-leader Gardner-Webb with 13-2 run to start the second
half on its way to a 66-49 victory on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Carter
Gym.
The game was tied at 25 going into the break when
the Camels came out and scored the first seven points of the second
period with four different CU players contributing to the run.
After a made Bulldogs jumper, sophomore Lauren
Yesh hit back-to-back shots and junior Jessica Mack hit a jumper to put the lead into double
figures for the first time at 38-27. During the rally, CU shot
5-of-8 from the field and went 3-for-5 from the line.
After a pair of made GWU free throws by Dominique
Hudson, CU went on a 7-1 run keyed by a pair of made free-throw
shots from Lindsay Smithberger and
Marlena Murphy. The lead quickly hit 21
on a fast-break layup from Lauren Arthur
at 57-36. Gardner-Webb was able to close the game on a 13-9 run,
but it proved to be too late as the Camels knocked off the Bulldogs
for the second-consecutive season at home.
CU (7-11, 2-3 A-Sun) used a strong team-effort
and had nine player score and all 13 players on the roster log game
action in the victory. Murphy led the team with 16 points and eight
rebounds. Smithberger and Yesh aided the bench's 32 points with 11
points and 10 points, respectively. Smithberger also chipped in
three steals and three assists in the win. Senior Maggie Rich played steady with six points, seven
rebounds and six assists.
The Camels shot 45 percent for the game
(26-of-58), but were sizzling in the second half and hit 57 percent
of their shots (16-of-28). The Campbell defense was strong
throughout and limited the best-shooting team in the conference to
34 percent shooting (18-of-53). Gardner-Webb was also held nearly
20 points under their season average for points (68.6).
CU were able to outscore GWU 34-12 in the paint
and 13 to 8 in second chance points. The Camels also won the
rebounding battle for the 14th time this season
(42-35).
The Bulldogs (8-10, 4-1 A-Sun) were led by
freshman Monique Hudson's 11 points. Sophomore Margaret Roundtree
had a steady effort with eight points, six rebounds and five
blocks.
Both teams had problems from the line as Campbell
went 12-for-23 (52 percent) with Gardner-Webb only going 9-for-18
(50 percent) from the charity stripe.
CU continues the three-game homestand against
Stetson on Jan. 26 at 1 p.m.
Notes: The Camels now leads the all-time series
with Gardner-Webb 12-6 with wins in seven of the eight games at
Carter Gym ... this was only the third time in the last 14 games
that Murphy has been held under double-digits in rebounds ... the
49 points allowed by the Campbell defense was the lowest this
season ... Rich tied her career-high with six assists.
