Jan. 28, 2012

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford junior forward Hannah Dawson posted her first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs, in leading the Bulldog women's basketball team to a 67-53 Southern Conference win over Elon Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.

With the win, Samford improves to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in Southern Conference play. Elon falls to 10-10 overall and 6-5 in league play. With Furman's loss to Appalachian State earlier in the day, Samford moves into a tie with the Paladins for fourth place in league standings.

"I thought our defensive intensity was good today," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We forced them into some turnovers and I thought that was big in the game. I was very pleased with our defensive effort as a team."

In her career-high performance, Dawson made 7-of-12 shots from the floor. Senior guard Paige Anderson scored a game-high 22 points, making 5-of-6 shots, all from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Senior guard Jazmine Powers had 10 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven assists for the Bulldogs. Senior guard Ruth Ketcham added six points in the win.

For Elon, Ali Ford led the way with 16 points. Aiesha Harper scored 10 points, while Kelsey Harris and Lei Lei Hairston added six points each for the Phoenix.

In the first half, after Samford scored the first three points of the game, Elon went on an 8-0 run to take an 8-3 lead with 14:57 to go in the first half after a layup by Lisa Archie. Samford responded with a 21-2 run to take control of the game with a 24-10 lead with 8:24 to go in the half after a layup by Powers.

Elon scored the next five points to cut the Samford lead to nine at 24-15 with 4:40 to go after a free throw by Hairston. Samford pushed its lead back out to 14 points at 29-15 with 1:56 to go after a three-pointer by Anderson. Samford took a 31-19 lead into halftime.

Samford pushed its lead out to 22 points at 47-25 with 14:28 left in the game following a layup by Shelby Campbell. With Samford leading, 49-27, Elon went on a 10-2 run to cut the Samford lead to 14 points at 51-37 with 8:30 to go after a layup by Harris.

The Bulldogs pushed their lead back out to 19 points at 56-37 with 5:31 to go following a jumper by Taylor Reece. Elon went on another 10-2 run to cut the Bulldogs' lead back to 11 points at 58-47 with 3:51 left after a three-pointer by Hairston.

Samford pushed its lead back out to 17 points at 64-47 with 1:52 to go following a three-pointer by Anderson. Elon could get no closer than 14 points the rest of the way as Samford came away with the 67-53 win.

For the game, Samford outrebounded Elon, 38-30. The Bulldogs made 43.6 percent of its shots, while holding Elon to just 38.8 percent for the game.

Samford will return to action in Monday, Jan.30, when the Bulldogs play host to UNC Greensboro. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.