Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team outscored the College of Charleston by 19 points in the second half to break open a close game on its way to a 61-41 Southern Conference win Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford held a 25-24 lead at halftime, and the Bulldogs outscored the Cougars, 36-17, in the second half. Samford shot 41.7 percent from the floor for the game, and 52.4 percent in the second half. From three-point range, Samford made 48.1 percent for the game, including 81.8 percent (9-for-11) in the second half.

Entering the game, College of Charleston had won nine-straight games overall, including eight in a row in SoCon play. Samford's defense forced the Cougars into 20 turnovers, while the Bulldogs committed just 11 turnovers. Charleston shot just 20 percent from three-point range, including a 16.7 percent performance in the second half.

"This was a big win for us," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "Especially with Charleston playing the way they've been playing, winning eight league games in a row, and us coming back from a loss.

"I was very pleased with our team defense," Morris said. "We hadn't shot of the ball well in the last game and we didn't shoot well for part of this game, but I thought our team set the tone defensively. We really guarded and held them to 17 points in the second half."

Samford was led in scoring by Emily London with 19 points. London made 6-of-9 shots from the floor, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Savannah Hill scored 16 points and pulled down five rebounds for the Bulldogs. Megan Wilderotter dished out six assists in the game for Samford.

Charleston was led by Tonia Gerty with 10 points. Nikki Williams scored nine points and Deidra Jones and Ericka Williams added eight points each for the Cougars.

The game was close throughout the first half. In the half, the game was tied five times and the lead changed hands three times. The largest lead of the half was six points by Samford at 19-13, but Charleston answered with a 9-0 run to take a 22-19 lead with 3:10 to play in the half. Samford scored six of the final eight points of the half to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.

The score remained close through the first part of the second half until, with Samford leading 35-34, the Bulldogs went on a 15-2 run to push their lead to 50-36 with 4:44 to go after a three-pointer by Karmen Smith.

After Charleston cut the lead to 12 at 50-38, Samford closed the game with an 11-3 run to come away with the 61-41 win.

With the win, Samford improves to 18-4 overall and 13-2 in SoCon play. College of Charleston drops to 17-6 overall and 10-5 in league play. Samford currently sits in second place in the conference, just one game behind Chattanooga.

Samford will return to action on Monday, Feb. 9, when the Bulldogs play host to Georgia Southern. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu.