Jan. 13, 2005

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's basketball team placed four players in double figures as the Bulldogs defeated the Murray State Lady Racers, 71-59, Thursday night at Seibert Hall.

"I was very proud of our young ladies," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We started poorly, but we bounced back to take the lead. When they came back and took the lead in the second half, we didn't fold, and that is a credit to the young ladies and their toughness."

Samford (9-5, 2-1 OVC) was led by Veronica Pike with 20 points. Tish Pilkerton recorded her first career double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. LaBrena Friend scored 15 points for the Bulldogs, and Cora Beth Smith added 12 points.

For Murray State (5-9, 1-2 OVC), Jessica Hirsch scored 16 points, while Shaleea Petty and Jill Fulkerson added 12 points apiece for the Lady Racers.

Murray State scored the first seven points of the game to grab an early 7-0 lead. Samford answered with a 17-2 run to take a 17-9 lead with 12:09 to play on a basket by Pike. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 10 at 24-14 with 9:02 to go in the half on a free throw by Pike. Murray State cut the lead to seven at 24-17, but that was as close as the Lady Racers would get in the first half as Samford took a 34-26 lead into halftime.

Murray State began the second half with a 14-6 run to tie the game at 40-40 with 12:50 to go in the game on a three-pointer by Hirsch. The Lady Racers then took the lead at 43-42 with 12:03 remaining in the game. MSU pushed its lead to as much as four points at 51-47, but an 8-0 Samford run gave the Bulldogs a 55-51 lead with 6:46 left in the game on a pair of free throws by Pike. Samford led, 63-59 with 2:43 to go, and the Bulldogs closed the game with an 8-0 run to come away with the 71-59 win.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, January 15, when the Bulldogs play host to Tennessee-Martin at 4:00 p.m. at Seibert Hall.