Nov. 29, 2010

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Samford women's basketball team held Western Carolina to just 35-percent shooting from the floor and 23 percent from three-point range to defeat the Catamounts, 63-48, Monday evening at the Ramsey Center.

The game was the conference opener for both teams. Samford improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in SoCon play after claiming its fourth-straight win. Western Carolina drops to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in league play.

"It was good to get our first conference win," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I was very pleased with our team, particularly in the second half with our effort and composure and with the way we executed."

Samford was led in scoring by Paige Anderson and Emily London with 15 points each. Hannah Dawson scored nine points. Alex Crow led the team in rebounding with 11. Savannah Hill had seven assists to go along with her six points.

For Western Carolina, Kaila'Shea Menendez scored 14 points. Caitlin Hollifield had 13 points and eight rebounds. Kendra Carroll added 10 points for the Catamounts.

In the first half, Samford jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with 16:50 to go in the half after a layup by Dawson. Western Carolina then went on an 11-0 run to take a 13-6 lead with 11:54 to go in the half.

Samford answered with a 15-0 run of its own to take a 21-13 lead with 5:25 to go after a basket by Dawson. With Samford leading, 23-15, Western Carolina scored seven of the next eight points to cut the lead to two at 24-22 with 1:11 to go in the half. Samford took a 28-24 lead into halftime.

Samford pushed its lead out to seven early in the second half at 33-26 and 36-29. Western Carolina then fought back to cut the lead to three at 36-33 with 13:55 to go in the game. The Bulldogs then went on an 11-2 run to push its lead to 12 at 47-35 with 9:54 to go after a layup by Crow.

After a pair of WCU free throws cut the Samford lead to 10 at 47-37, Samford scored the next seven points to push its lead to 17 at 54-37 with 7:18 left after two free throws by Anderson. Samford led by as much as 18 at 57-39, but WCU scored the next five points to cut the lead to 13 at 57-44 with 4:20 left in the game.

Samford then scored six of the next seven points to push its lead back to 18 at 63-45 with 11 seconds to go. A late three-pointer by WCU's Carroll made the final score 63-48.

For the game, Samford out-rebounded Western Carolina, 32-28. The Bulldogs shot 47 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three-point range in the game.

Samford will return to action on Dec. 7, when the Bulldogs play host to Berry College. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.