Nov. 10, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Regina Stowes rebounded a missed shot by Shawnee Lenoir and put in the put back with 1.5 seconds to force overtime and the Alabama Wrath used an 11-0 run in the first 2:19 of the overtime period to hand Samford University a 78-68 exhibition loss at Seibert Hall Saturday afternoon.

Samford had a chance to win the game in regulation after freshman Morgan Vickery hit a pair of free-throws to give Samford a 63-62 lead with 33 seconds remaining. Sophomore Giovanni Price pulled down a rebound and was fouled with 14 ticks left. Price had made 11-straight free throws in the game, but missed on her first shot. After making the second, the Bulldogs had a 64-62 lead.

Price finished the game with career bests of 26 points and 16 rebounds. She was 13 of 15 for the free throw line while playing 38 minutes. Vickery scored 19 points in her first college action. She went 8-8 from the free throw line. Freshman LaBrena Friend added 10 points as 34 of Samford's 68 points came from freshmen. Add in Price's 26 points and three points from Sarah Clement and 63 points were scored by freshmen and sophomores.

"I know more about this team now than I did at 2 p.m.," said Samford head coach Janet Cone. Our freshman and sophomores are going to play a lot of minutes in our non-conference schedule. This game was a humbling experience. We got a chance to see how we respond to overtime and tension situations. I thought we played well on defense except for the last possession of regulation and the overtime. We need to learn that we have to play good defense all of time."

The Alabama Wrath were led by 20 points from Taurus Pyles, 17 points from Kristi Crawford, and 14 from Stowes. In the overtime, the Wrath were 4-8 from the floor, 1-2 from the three-point arc, and 5-6 from the free throw line while Samford was 0-9 from the floor and 4-6 from the line.

The first 40 minutes was a stalemate as the teams were tied a 26 at the half and played just as evenly in the second half. Both teams shot 40 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the stripe in the second period. Samford led by as many as eight points with 17:44 left and the Wrath led by five points with 5:26 remaining. Samford out rebounded the Wrath 48-40 but committed 28 turnovers in the game.

Samford will begin the regular season on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, against the University of Alabama.