Nov. 17, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alex Munday led four scorers in double figures with 23 points as the Samford women's basketball team defeated East Tennessee State, 91-72, in the final game of the preseason WNIT Consolation Bracket Saturday night at the Pete Hanna Center.

Behind Munday for Samford, Emily London scored a career-high 20 points, Monica Maxwell scored 14 points and Chika Okoli added a career-high10 points. As a team, Samford set a school record with 15 three-pointers.

"I was very impressed with the way our team played in the second half to extend out to a 30-point lead," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I thought we did it with our defensive energy.

"We had people step up, with Karmen Smith taking charges, and senior Alex Munday after having a tough night on Friday, stepping up and giving us 23 points," Morris said. "We had another freshman stepping up and giving us a big night in Emily London."

ETSU was led by Siarre Evans with 15 points and 10 rebounds. TaRonda Wiles scored 14 points, Michele DeVault scored 11 points and Kelly Turman added 10.

ETSU jumped out to an early 11-3 lead with 17:43 to play in the first half after a layup by Evans. Samford answered with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to two at 11-9 with 15:53 left in the first half following a three-pointer by Maxwell.

ETSU pushed its lead back out to nine at 27-18 and 29-20, but Samford then went on a 10-0 run to take a 30-29 lead with 5:46 to go in the opening period after a layup by London. The teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the half and Samford held a 41-39 lead at halftime.

In the second half, with Samford leading, 51-46, the Bulldogs went on a 14-0 run to take control of the game with a 65-46 lead with 10:25 to go after a jumper by Savannah Hill. ETSU scored the next six points in a row to cut the lead to 13 at 65-52, but Samford then went on a 19-4 run to push the lead to 28 at 84-56 with 4:51 to go in the game.

Samford pushed its lead out to as much as 30 in the second half at 88-58, and the Bulldogs came away with a 91-72 win.

With the win, Samford improves to 3-1, while ETSU drops to 1-2.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 24, when the Bulldogs take on Missouri in the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start.