Nov. 25, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team shot just 38.8 percent overall and 30 percent from three-point range in 58-57 loss to Western Kentucky on the first day of the UAB Thanksgiving Classic Friday afternoon at Bartow Arena.

"They (WKU) are a heck of a team and a heck of a program," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I thought we did some good stuff, but I think the biggest issue for us was we didn't shoot the ball well. We missed some open threes and some layups."

Western Kentucky outrebounded Samford, 41-25, including an 11-3 advantage on offensive rebounds.

Individually for Samford, Paige Anderson scored 13 points, making 8-of-9 free-throw attempts. Jazmine Powers scored 12 points, while Ruth Ketcham scored nine points and Shelby Campbell and Jazmine Martin added eight points each.

For Western Kentucky, LaTeira Owens led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Ellen Sholtes scored 11 points, while Jasmine Johnson added eight points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Toppers.

The teams traded baskets for the first several minutes of the first half. With Samford leading, 11-10, the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run to push their lead to 11 points at 21-10 with 9:17 to go in the first half after a three-pointer by Martin. Western Kentucky answered with a 9-0 run of its own to cut the Samford lead to two at 21-19 with 6:41 left in the opening period.

Samford pushed its lead back out to eight points at 27-19 with 4:35 to go in the first half after a layup by Powers. Western Kentucky, however, closed the half with a 7-0 run to cut the Bulldogs' lead to one point at 27-26 going into halftime.

In the second half, Western Kentucky scored nine of the first 12 points of the half to take a 35-30 lead with 15:11 left in the game. The Lady Toppers pushed their lead out to as much as nine points at 42-33 with 10:41 to go. Samford, however, went on a 10-1 run to tie the score at 43-43 with 7:16 left after a pair of free throws by Anderson.

Samford took the lead at 50-49 with 5:05 left after two more free throws by Anderson. The lead went back and forth for the next few minutes. Samford led, 57-55 with 2:07 to go after two free throws by Ketcham. Two WKU free throws by Johnson and one by Sholtes gave the Lady Toppers a 58-57 lead with 55 seconds to go.

Samford had two chances to take the lead again, but the Bulldogs were unable to convert on either possession.

With the loss, Samford falls to 2-2 on the young season. Western Kentucky improves to 1-4 with the win.

Samford will conclude play in the UAB Thanksgiving Classic with a game Saturday at 2 p.m. against Southeast Missouri at Bartow Arena.