Jan. 19, 2004
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Sophomore guard Cora Beth Smith hit a driving layup with one second left in the game to give the Samford women's basketball team a 61-59 win over the Alabama State Lady Hornets Monday afternoon in Seibert Hall.
"It is huge for us to win a game like that," Samford head coach Mike Morris said." Alabama State is a very good team. We needed to win a game like this after losing at Martin last week."
Alabama State (6-7) led the game early. The Lady Hornets led by as much as four points at 14-10 with 13:45 left in the first half. However, a 6-0 Samford (8-7) run gave the Bulldogs a 16-14 lead with 7:46 to go on two free throws by LaBrena Friend. Samford steadily increased its lead through the rest of the first half, and the Bulldogs led by nine at halftime, 37-28.
Alabama State opened the second half with an 11-3 run to cut the Samford lead to one at 40-39 with 12:49 to go on a jumper by Nedra Thompson. Samford answered with a 5-0 run of its own to push its lead to 45-39 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Chelsee Insell with 11:52 to go in the game. Alabama State then scored the game's next five points to tie the game at 45-45 on a three-pointer by Latasha Thomas with 11:10 left in the game. Samford then went on an 8-0 run to take the lead back at 53-45 with 7:33 remaining on a jumper by freshman forward Alex Munday. The Lady Hornets came back once again, to cut the lead to two at 53-51 with 5:26 left in the game on a jumper by Crystal Kitt.
With Samford leading, 59-55, with 2:23 to go, Kitt hit two free throws and a jumper to tie the game at 59-59 and set the stage for Smith's game-winner.
Samford was led in scoring by Munday with 17 points. Insell scored 14, and Lindsey Harris added 11. Smith finished with six points for the Bulldogs.
Alabama State was led by Kitt with 29 points and 16 rebounds.
Samford will return to action on Thursday, when the Bulldogs play host to Morehead State. Tip-off for the Ohio Valley Conference contest is set for 5:00 p.m. in Seibert Hall.
