Nov. 5, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team defeated Montevallo, 76-37, in the first exhibition game in the new Pete Hanna Center Monday evening.

"I thought we played solid basketball for 40 minutes," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "That is what we wanted to do in an exhibition game. Our intensity went down a little to start the second half, but for 40 minutes, I thought we were a solid basketball team."

Samford was led in scoring by Chika Okoli and MaKenzie Spruiell with 14 points each. Alex Munday scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds. Freshman Emily London scored 10 points, and freshman Savannah Hill had eight points and eight rebounds.

For Montevallo, Tiffany Johnson scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Katie Vanderhyden added seven points for Montevallo.

Samford took control of the game early, racing out to a 17-2 lead with 12:41 to go in the first half following a pair of free throws by Hill. Montevallo scored the next five points in a row to cut the lead to 10 at 17-7 with 9:08 to go in the half.

Samford pushed its lead out to 17 at 32-15 with 2:50 to go in the half after a jumper by London. The Bulldogs held a 20-point lead at halftime at 39-19.

Samford pushed its lead to 29 midway through the second half at 59-30 after a three-pointer by London. The Samford lead grew to 40 at 70-30 with 4:14 to go in the game after a layup by Hill.

Montevallo could get no closer than 37 points the rest of the way as Samford came away with the 76-37 win.

The game is Samford's lone exhibition game of the preseason. The Bulldogs open the 2007-08 regular season Friday night at LSU in the Preseason WNIT. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.