Feb. 23, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team dropped a 55-53 decision to the Western Carolina Lady Catamounts Monday evening in a Southern Conference contest in the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford trailed 29-19 at halftime, but the Bulldogs' comeback fell just short in the second half.

"As a team, I was pleased with the way we came out in the second half," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We bowed up and defended. They really took it to us, physically in the first half. We just physically and mentally were not tough enough."

With the loss, Samford drops to 21-5 overall and 16-3 in Southern Conference action, while Western Carolina improves to 17-11 overall and 13-6 in league play. Samford is currently tied with Chattanooga for first place in the league, and the two teams will meet Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale to decide the conference championship.

Samford was led by Emily London, scoring a career-high 24 points. Savannah Hill and Karmen Smith added nine points each for the Bulldogs.

For Western Carolina, Lauren Powell led the way with 13 points. Emily Clarke and Brooke Johnson had eight points apiece for the Lady Catamounts.

The teams traded baskets early in the first half. With the score tied at 6-6, Western Carolina went on a 17-1 run to take a 23-7 lead with 8:45 to go in the half after a layup by Diamond Hunnicutt.

With Samford trailing, 25-9, the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 10 at 27-17 with 3:21 to go after a pair of free throws by London. The Lady Catamounts took a 29-19 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Samford quickly cut the WCU lead to five at 33-28 with 16:01 to play following a free throw by Megan Wilderotter. The Bulldogs closed to within three points at 35-32 with 14:24 to go after a layup by London.

Western Carolina quickly pushed the lead back out to eight points at 40-32 with 12:53 left in the contest. Samford score six of the next eight points to cut the lead back to four at 42-38 with 11:35 to go after a three-pointer by Smith.

With Samford trailing, 49-43, the Bulldogs rattled off five-straight points to close to within one point at 49-48 with 3:34 to go after a free throw by Chika Okoli. With Samford trailing, 54-50, London hit a three-pointer with four seconds to go to cut the lead to 54-53, but the Bulldogs could not score again as the Lady Catamounts came away with the 55-53 win.

Saturday's game against Chattanooga is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.