Samford University
Eastern Illinois*
Women's Hoops Falls To Eastern Illinois, 67-56
2.4.06 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Sophomore guard Taryn Towns scored 17 points, but it was not enough as the Samford women's basketball team fell, 67-56, to Eastern Illinois Saturday at Seibert Hall.
"We were beaten by a good team tonight," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We were out-played and out-coached tonight. I have to do a better job of coaching and getting them prepared to play."
Behind Towns' 17 points, Cora Beth Smith scored 10 points and Chelsee Insell added nine points for Samford (15-7, 10-5 OVC).
Eastern Illinois (10-12, 9-5 OVC) was led by Megan Sparks with 17 points and Rachel Galligan with 16 points. Megan Edwards added nine for the Panthers.
After Samford took an early 5-4 lead following a three-pointer by Insell, EIU went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-7 lead with 13:25 to play in the first half after three-straight free throws by Edwards. Samford answered with a 7-2 run of its own to tie the game at 14-14 with 10:32 left in the half after a jumper by Smith.
The Panthers scored four of the next six points to take a 20-16 lead with 7:58 left in the first half. EIU pushed its lead to eight at 26-18 with 4:53 to play in the half following a layup by Julie Lipperd. The Panthers took a 30-23 lead into halftime.
The Panthers pushed their lead to nine early in the second half at 32-23. With Eastern Illinois leading, 38-29, Samford went on a 10-2 run to cut EIU's lead to one at 40-39 with 12:35 to play after a pair of free throws by Alex Munday. EIU answered with a 7-0 run to push its lead to eight at 47-39 with 10:59 left after a jumper by Kara Kramer.
The Panthers increased their lead to 14 at 61-47 with 3:13 to play. Samford could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way as Eastern Illinois came away with the 67-56 win.
Samford will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 11, when the Bulldogs play at Austin Peay. The game is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
