BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell will travel to Appalachian State for the Women's Basketball Invitational semifinals. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Holmes Center on Saturday.
The Camels (23-12) are coming off a 70-62 win over Tennessee Tech in the WBI quarterfinals on Monday in Buies Creek.
Hayley Barber posted a career-high 23 points in the win, hitting 8-of-10 shots, including 2-of-3 three pointers while adding a 5-of-6 clip from the free throw line. The junior also dished out four assists with two rebounds.
Shy Tuelle joined Barber in double figures with 13 points, knocking down 3-of-4 from distance and tacking on five assists.
Caroline Bowns scored nine on three triples, while
Lauren McNamara-Clement and
Luana Serranho registered eight apiece.
Campbell's 23 wins matches a single-season school record, tying the 1987-88 team.
CU began its WBI run with a 58-54 road win at former Big South rival Coastal Carolina, with Barber pouring in 17 and Tuelle adding 14 off the bench. The win marked Campbell's first ever postseason victory. CU also became the first Big South program to win a game in the WBI (since 2010; the Big South is now 2-7 in the WBI all-time). This is Campbell's second trip to the WBI, also participating in 2017 when the Camels hosted Saint Francis, falling 79-68.
Since the end of the regular season, Barber is one of three Camels averaging double figures, recording 13.0 points per game. Tuelle adds 11.0 points, while
Caroline Bowns is shooting 51.4 percent from the floor with 10.3 points per game. CU has gone 5-1 during the stretch, making an appearance in the Big South Championship title game.
Saturday's game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+. Live audio will be available on the
Campbell Digital Network, as well as live stats on
GoCamels.com. You can also follow the Camels on Twitter @GoCamelsWBB for live updates.
Saturday's winner will head to the WBI championship game, taking on either North Texas or North Alabama.
Tuelle, a Big South All-Freshman Team honoree, leads the Camels at 9.1 points per game, shooting 38 percent from the floor, while Barber, who was named honorable mention All-Big South, as well as to Big South All-Tournament team, averages 9.0 points and 2.8 assists per game.
Lauren Carter, another Big South All-Freshman Team member, posts 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, with
Taya Bolden averaging 7.7 points with a team-high 8.4 rebounds.
The Camels boast of the nation's top defenses, holding opponents to 55.9 points per game (ranking 16th in the NCAA), with a 35.7 percent field goal defense (14th nationally) and a 26.7 percent three point field goal defense (9th nationally).
The Camels have held opponents below the 50-point line 12 times this season.
Appalachian State is 20-14 on the season, winning eight of its last 10, including a 57-55 victory over UNC Asheville in its WBI opener, followed by an 83-71 win over Marshall. The Mountaineers, who went 10-8 in the Sun Belt in 2018-19, are led by Madi Story's 12.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Pre Stanley adds 10.9 points, while Lainey Gosnell posts 10.4 points per game. Bayley Plummer also collects 12.4 rebounds per game, adding 7.4 points.
The Camels and Mountaineers are meeting for the first time since 2012. Appalachian State leads the all-time series 11-7.
