Box Score ELON, N.C. – Samford senior guard Shelby Campbell scored a career-high 28 points, but it was not enough as the Bulldog women's basketball team dropped its Southern Conference opener at Elon, 71-61, Saturday evening at Alumni Gym.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in SoCon play. Elon improves to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
As a team, Elon outrebounded Samford, 45-27, including an 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Samford committed 20 turnovers in the loss, while Elon turned the ball over 21 times.
 
"The two biggest stats of the game were we gave up 18 offensive rebounds and we had 20 turnovers," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "A big part of that is we just have to be tougher. We're not tough enough and that definitely starts with the head coach. We have to do a better job of boxing out."
 
Campbell made 11-of-15 shots from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point range in posting her career-high total. Behind Campbell for Samford, Ellen Riggins scored eight points. Christy Robinson scored seven points, and Brittany Stevens added six points for the Bulldogs.
 
Samford trailed by as much as 15 points in the second half, but the Bulldogs fought back to close to within three points late, but they were unable to get over the hump, eventually falling by 10 points, 71-61.
 
"I was pleased with the way we started the game and the way we rallied in the middle of the second half," Morris said. "Obviously, Shelby did a great job of scoring and kind of rallying the troops. We didn't quit, we had an opportunity down three with the ball late, but turnovers and offensive rebounds crushed us."
 
Elon was led by Zora Stephenson with 23 points. Kelsey Harris scored 13 points, while Sam Coffer scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Phoenix. Jenifer Rhodes added 10 points for Elon.
 
The teams traded baskets through the first few minutes of the first half until, with Samford trailing, 8-6, the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run to take a 16-8 lead with 14:28 to go in the first half after a basket by Campbell. Elon answered with a 13-3 run of its own to take a 21-19 lead with 9:13 left in the opening half.
 
With Elon leading, 23-21, a three-pointer by Campbell gave Samford the lead again at 24-23 with 7:38 left in the first half. Elon, however, fought back to take a five-point lead at 30-25 with 4:04 left in the first half. Samford cut the lead to one point at 32-31, but a three-pointer by Elon's Stephenson at the buzzer gave the Phoenix a 35-31 halftime advantage.
 
Elon opened the second half with a 9-2 run to push its lead to 11 points at 44-33 with 16:09 to play after a jumper by Shannen Cochraham. The Elon lead stayed around the 10-point mark until, with the score 50-42, the Phoenix scored the next seven points to take a game-high 15-point lead at 57-42 with 8:52 left after a free throw by Lauren Brown.
 
Samford answered with a 13-1 run of its own to cut the lead to three points at 58-55 with 5:11 to go after a layup by Lydia McGee. Elon scored the next five points to push its lead back out to eight at 63-55 with 3:11 to go after a pair of free throws by Rhodes. Samford could get no closer than six points the rest of the way and Elon hit several key free throws down the stretch to clinch the 10-point win, 71-61.
 
Samford will return to action on Monday. Dec. 16, when the Bulldogs continue conference play at UNCG. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start from Greensboro, N.C.