Nov. 24, 2008

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Samford women's basketball team improved to 4-0 with a 62-48 win at Lipscomb Monday night at Allen Arena.

As a team, Samford had another strong defensive performance in the win. The Bulldogs held the Lady Bisons to 25.5 percent shooting from the floor and 21.1 percent from three-point range. Samford also forced Lipscomb into 17 turnovers in the game.

"I was very pleased with our team's defensive effort," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "To hold a team to 48 points on its home floor is a great effort."

Samford was led by Savannah Hill with 15 points and nine rebounds. Chika Okoli scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds. Karmen Smith added 11 points for the Bulldogs.

For Lipscomb (1-4), Jenna Bartsokas scored 15 points. Cree Nix added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Bisons.

The game went back and forth early in the first half until, with Lipscomb leading 8-5, Samford went on a 10-0 run to take a 15-8 lead with 8:59 to go in the half after a three-pointer by Okoli. After Lipscomb cut the lead to five at 15-10, Samford scored the next five points in a row to push its lead to 20-10 with 7:13 to go in the half after a three-pointer by Hill.

Samford pushed its lead out to 12 at 24-12 with 5:48 to go in the half. With Samford leading, 30-18, Lipscomb scored the final three points of the half, all from the free throw line, and Samford took a 30-21 lead into halftime.

Samford pushed its lead to 11 early in the second half at 34-23, but an 11-0 run by the Lady Bisons tied the score at 34-34 with 11:02 to play. Samford came back with a 9-0 run to take a 45-36 lead with 8:12 to play in the game after a pair of free throws by Megan Wilderotter.

Samford pushed its lead out to as much as 15 points at 56-41 with 1:42 to go after a jumper by Emily London. Lipscomb could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way as Samford came away with the 62:48 win.

The 4-0 start for Samford ties the best start in program history. The 2004-05 team also won its first four games of the season.

Samford will return to action on Nov. 28 and 29, when the Bulldogs play host to the Samford-UAB Thanksgiving Classic at the Pete Hanna Center. On Friday, UAB will take on Evansville at 5 p.m. and Samford will play McNeese State at 7 p.m. On Saturday, UAB and McNeese State will meet at 2 p.m., and Samford will take on Evansville at 4 p.m.