Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team held Western Carolina to just 28.6 percent shooting on its way to a 54-49 Southern Conference win over the Catamounts Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
"Our team has done a really good job of committing to guarding," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "They understand that you have to defend, no matter what. Even when we've struggled offensively, for the last four or five games, other than at Davidson, we have defended well."
 
For Samford offensively, Hannah Nichols led the way with 12 points and six rebounds. Christy Robinson had 11 points for the Bulldogs. Keke Fletcher led all players with a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
Western Carolina was led by Lindsay Simpson with 11 points. Shauna Terry added eight points for the Catamounts.
 
The game was tight throughout the first half. The largest lead for either team was five points by Western Carolina at 21-16. The score was tied five times in the first half, and the lead changed hands seven times.
 
With 2:10 to go in the first half, WCU held its five-point lead at 21-16. Samford came back to cut the lead to one point at 21-20, but two late Western Carolina free throws gave the Catamounts a 23-20 advantage heading into halftime.
 
In the second half, Western Carolina pushed its lead out to six points at 29-23 with 17:22 to go after a jumper by Terry. Samford then went on an 11-3 run to take a 34-32 lead with 14:01 to go after a three-pointer by Nichols.
 
Western Carolina came back to take a 37-36 lead with 11:05 to go in the game after a three-pointer by Simpson. Samford fought back to take a six-point lead at 49-43 with 7:28 to go following a three-pointer by Clara Young.
 
The Catamounts fought back to close to within two points at 51-49 with 1:02 to go in the game after a free throw by Ali Lane. Late free throws by Young and Krista Stricklin allowed Samford to pull away for the 54-49 win.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 7-16 overall and 5-7 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina falls to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in league games.
 
Samford will return to action on Monday, Feb. 10, when the Bulldogs play host to Appalachian State. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.