Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team dropped a 60-54 decision to Jacksonville State in the final non-conference game of the season for the Bulldogs Wednesday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
"They just wanted it more than we did today," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I addressed that in the locker room. But that starts at the top with me. They came in with nothing to lose and they played well."
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 3-10 overall, while Jacksonville State improves to 4-11. The loss ends Samford's six-game win streak in the series.
 
As a team, Samford shot 44.2 percent overall, compared to 37.5 percent for Jacksonville State. The difference in the game came at the free-throw line where Jacksonville State made 20-of-24 attempts, while Samford made 2-of-4 from the charity stripe.
 
Individually for Samford, senior Christy Robinson scored 14 points and dished out six assists. Senior Shelby Campbell and redshirt freshman Lydia McGee scored 11 points each for the Bulldogs, and McGee grabbed six rebounds. Freshman Hannah Nichols scored seven points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while sophomore Krista Stricklin added seven points for the Bulldogs.
 
For Jacksonville State, Miranda Cantrell led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds. Candace Morton had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Gamecocks.
 
In the first half, Jacksonville State got off to a fast start, scoring the first six points of the contest. A three-pointer by Campbell and a layup by Robinson cut the lead to 6-5 with 17:01 left in the first half. JSU built its lead back up to five points at 10-5 with 16:04 to go in the first half. With JSU leading, 14-9, Samford scored the next five points to tie the score at 14-14 with 11:24 left in the half after three-pointer by Stricklin.
 
After JSU took a 17-14 lead, Samford scored the next six points to take a 20-17 lead with 8:17 left in the first half after a layup by Campbell. JSU, however, went on an 8-0 run to take a 25-20 lead with 6:00 to go in the opening period after a three-pointer by Bria'unna Buckner. The Gamecocks built their lead to seven points at 29-22 with 3:38 left in the half. Two late jumpers by Samford's Ellen Riggins made the score 29-26, JSU, going into halftime.
 
After Robinson hit a layup to pull Samford to within one point at 29-28 to open the second half, JSU built its lead back to six points at 34-28 with 16:52 to play. The Gamecocks led by as much as seven points at 40-33, but Samford seven of the next eight points to cut the JSU lead to one point at 41-40 with 11:10 to play. JSU then went on a 7-2 run to make the score 48-42 with 7:05 to go in the game.
 
Samford fought back to close to within one point at 48-47 with 5:28 to go after a layup by Stricklin. JSU, however, scored the next five points to make the score 53-47 with just 58 seconds to go. The Gamecocks hit several key free throws down the stretch to pull away for the 60-54 win.
 
Samford will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4, when the Bulldogs play host to Davidson. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.