COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Historically, matchups between the Shawnee State women's basketball program and the Campbellsville Tigers' women's basketball program rarely disappoint.
Saturday afternoon's matchup between the Bears and the Tigers was no different -- with Shawnee State battling back from a 20-point first half deficit to cut Campbellsville's lead to a nine-point margin, then a 22-point second half deficit to rally within 10 during the fourth quarter. However, No. 3 Campbellsville was able to thwart both rallies as the Bears fell to the Tigers, 74-62, in a contest that was held at the Biggers Sports Center in Columbia, Ky.
By the Numbers
Shawnee State's defensive efficiency continued to show Saturday as the Bears held No. 3 Campbellsville, who was shooting 49 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three-point range coming into Saturday's contest, to just 35.5 percent shooting from the floor (22-of-62) and a 21.4 percent mark from three-point land (3-of-14).
The Tigers went 7-of-15 in the opening quarter of action to take a 23-9 first quarter lead, but following the first 10 minutes of action, the Bears held Campbellsville to just 15-of-47 (31.9 percent) the rest of the way as SSU outscored No. 3 Campbellsville 53-51 over the final 30 minutes. Additionally, Shawnee State bullied Campbellsville around on the glass -- as the Bears obtained a plus-nine rebounding advantage (48-39) over the Tigers.
As a team, Shawnee State continued its improvement on finding the open hand, dishing out 13 assists on its 22 made baskets Saturday afternoon. The difference proved to be free throw opportunities -- as Campbellsville obtained 34 free throw attempts, more than double Shawnee State's 16 official chances at the charity stripe. Shawnee State was ultimately called for 26 of the contest's 43 personal fouls.
Gloster keeps producing
Playing in 26 minutes due to personal foul trouble, Shawnee State's Cianna Gloster still enjoyed a fine effort as the senior forward posted a game-high 15 rebounds and led Shawnee State with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 mark from the free throw stripe.
Gloster was especially critical in the opening quarter -- helping Shawnee State along during a stretch where the Bears struggled by posting seven rebounds and six points in the opening frame alone. Gloster then helped Shawnee State rally as her pressure in the Bears' full-court press allowed SSU to rally from a 22-point second half deficit to within 10 behind Gloster's six points, four steals and three rebounds in the final 10 minute stanza.
Gloster, who posted a season-high rebounding total in the defeat, posted her 26th career double-double at Shawnee State in her 40th game with the Bears. The senior is now averaging 13.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals on 50.3 percent shooting from the floor.
Johnson's physicality leads to double-double effort
Heading up the second half comeback alongside Gloster, Jada Johnson's grit and grind mindset showed Saturday afternoon.
The senior posted her second career double-double at Shawnee State with a 12-point, 11-rebound effort off of the bench in 23 minutes, all while adding in four blocks to boot. Johnson posted four points and three rebounds in the second quarter, three rebounds, two blocks and two points in the third quarter and six points, three rebounds and a block in the final frame to keep the Bears in the contest throughout.
In addition to notching her second career double-double and the first since Jan. 12, 2023, the Nashville, Tenn. native's four blocks were also a career-high.
Hawthorne, Gregory remain steady
Continuing to provide steady production, junior forward Lauren Hawthorne and senior guard Sanaya Gregory were both big at different points in the contest.
Hawthorne, who finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a steal, combined with Johnson to get SSU off of an early skid in the second quarter as the duo combined for eight second quarter points to help Shawnee State rally from a 31-11 second quarter deficit to a 37-22 margin at the halftime break.
Gregory, who finished with 12 points, was again money from the free throw line -- going 4-of-4 from that area -- and hit two straight three-point field goal attempts to help pull Shawnee State within 39-30 as the Bears ultimately went on a 19-8 run between the second and third quarters of action. Gregory is ultimately averaging 8.1 points and 2.2 assists while shooting a team-best 89.5 percent from the free throw line.
Additional
Emily Maynard's and Lexi Deaver's shooting stroke from deep was proficient against Campbellsville as the duo combined to go 4-of-8 from three-point range while nabbing six points apiece. Miyoshi Ellis, who added in the remaining two tallies for Shawnee State, played at a terrific pace for much of the contest -- nabbing a team-high eight assists while adding four rebounds, a steal and a block to boot. Ellis also committed just three turnovers by comparison to post a 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and now owns a team-best 2.3 assists for the 2024-25 season.
Shawnee State (7-3) will turn its attention to a return trip at Simmons (Ky.) in Louisville, Ky. with that affair commencing Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. The Bears defeated the Falcons, 75-42, in a contest that was held at Waller Gymnasium as part of the Shawnee State Classic Friday, Nov. 22.
