Nov. 25, 2007

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Samford women's basketball team won its fifth-straight game with a 70-59 win at Florida Atlantic on the final day of the FAU Thanksgiving Classic on Sunday. Samford went 2-0 in the tournament after defeating Missouri, 65-49, on Saturday.

"We shot the ball very well today," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We played a quality team that I thought played well on their floor. To get a road win means something."

Samford freshman guard Emily London was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. London scored 15 points in Sunday's win, and she had 14 points in Saturday's game. Freshman forward Savannah Hill was also named to the All-Tournament team. She scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds Sunday, and she had 12 points in the Bulldogs' win over Missouri on Saturday.

"Emily and Savannah have come in here since day one and have shown they are good players," Morris said. "They are a good fit to what we do in our system and they are a part of our puzzle, there is no doubt."

In Sunday's game, Samford was led by Megan Wilderotter with 16 points. Monica Maxwell also added 10 points to give the Bulldogs four players in double figures.

"I thought Megan Wilderotter had her best game," Morris said. "She didn't miss a shot and she was big down the stretch. She made a couple of big threes, made some free throws and made some big defensive stops, and she was a huge part of us winning this game in the end."

FAU was led by Carla Stubbs with 17 points and Jamie Givens with 13 points.

With Samford trailing, 8-5 early in the first half, the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to take a 13-8 lead with 13:47 to play in the first half after a three-pointer by Wilderotter. After FAU cut the lead to one at 13-12, Samford went on a 10-0 run to make the score 23-12 with 10:10 to play in the first half following a three-pointer by London.

Samford pushed its lead out to 18 at 34-16, but FAU went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 12 at 34-22. Samford took a 36-24 lead into halftime.

Samford pushed its lead out to 16 at 42-26 early in the second half after a three-pointer by Monica Maxwell. With Samford leading, 47-32, FAU went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to seven at 47-40.

With Samford leading, 50-42, the Bulldogs went on a 7-1 run to push its lead to 57-43 with 9:25 to play after a three-pointer by Wilderotter. FAU cut the lead to 10 at 59-49, but Samford pushed the lead back out to 13 at 65-52. FAU could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way as Samford came away with the 70-59 win.

Samford will return to action on Friday, Nov. 30, when the Bulldogs play at the University of New Orleans on the first night of the UNO Tournament. Friday night's game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start. Samford will also take on 15th-ranked George Washington on Saturday on the final day of the tournament at 1 p.m.