Nov. 26, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior guard Paige Anderson scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds in leading the Bulldog women's basketball team to a 63-58 win over Southeast Missouri on the final day of the UAB Thanksgiving Classic Saturday afternoon at Bartow Arena.

Anderson scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half. Sophomore guard Shelby Campbell finished with 11 points, with seven of her points coming in the second half.

"I was very pleased with our team in that we were 0-for-10 shooting threes in the first half and 2-for-18 for the game but we still found a way to win," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I thought Paige Anderson and Shelby Campbell really bowed up in the second half against a very well-coached team."

In addition to Anderson and Campbell's performances, freshman forward Taylor Reece scored nine points, and senior guard Jazmine Powers added eight points for the Bulldogs. Junior forward Hannah Dawson grabbed seven rebounds for Samford.

For SEMO, Bianca Beck scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Brittany Harriel scored 12 points, while Bailie Roberts added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The game was close throughout the first half. The largest lead for either team was five points by Samford at 16-11 with 7:19 to go before halftime. Southeast Missouri, however went on an 8-0 run to take a 19-16 lead with 4:21 left in the first half.

Samford fought back to tie the score at 20-20 with 2:43 left in the opening period after a pair of free throws by Powers. Heading into halftime, SEMO held a 25-24 advantage.

In the second half, Southeast Missouri built its lead up to five points at 29-24 and 31-26. The Bulldogs, however, went on a 13-4 run to take a 39-35 lead with 10:45 to go after a three-pointer by Campbell.

Samford built its lead to as much as six points at 43-37 with 7:40 left in the game. SEMO fought back to cut the lead to one at 43-42 with 7:00 left in the contest. Samford pushed its lead back out to six at 50-44 with 4:20 to play after a layup by Reece.

Southeast Missouri could get no closer than three points the rest of the way. Samford built its lead to as much as eight points at 63-55, but a late three-pointer by SEMO's Karley Evans made the final score 63-58.

As a team, Samford shot 46.0 percent overall, but just 11.1 percent from three-point range. The Bulldogs' defense held SEMO to 34.5 percent overall and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Samford improves to 3-2 with the win. Southeast Missouri falls to 0-6 with the loss.

Samford will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 30, when the Bulldogs play host to in-state rival Jacksonville State. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off from the Pete Hanna Center.