BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford women's basketball team earned an impressive 82-32 win over the Auburn Montgomery Warhawks in Samford's home opener Sunday afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
In the win for Samford, every available player scored, and had at least one rebound and at least one assist. The team finished with a total of 24 assists, tying a school record.
 
"The 24 assists was a big number," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "If you're playing against a zone, like AUM played, if you're attacking it well, you should have assists. Our team really moved the ball well, saw each other well and were completely unselfish today. Defensively, we were better in the second half, our energy was better, and obviously we shot the ball well today."
 
Samford shot 51.9 percent as a team, including a 46.4-percent effort from three-point range. The Samford defense held AUM to just 26.2 percent overall and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs', defense allowed the Warhawks to score just nine points in the second half of Sunday's contest.
 
Individually for Samford, Taylor Reece scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds. Kassidy Blevins also scored 15 points, and dished out four assists for the Bulldogs. Lydia McGee and Ellen Riggins added nine points each for Samford.
 
For AUM, Kaylan Withrow led the way with 11 points. Reggotta Craig followed with seven points and six rebounds.
 
In the first quarter, Samford jumped out to an early lead, grabbing an 11-3 advantage with 5:54 to go in the period following a three-pointer by Reece. Samford held a nine-point advantage at the end of the first quarter, leading by a score of 21-12.
 
Samford pushed its lead out to 14 points at 28-14 with 6:24 left in the second quarter after a layup by McGee. With the Bulldogs holding a 32-20 advantage, Samford closed the second quarter with a 10-3 run to take a 42-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Bulldogs increased their lead to 24 points early in the third quarter at 47-23 with 9:19 left in the period following a layup by Reece. After AUM cut the lead to 21 at 47-26, Samford closed the quarter with a 15-3 run to take a 62-29 lead into the final period.
 
Samford extended its lead to 38 points at 67-29 with 8:29 left in the game after a three-pointer by Keke Fletcher. After AUM cut the lead to 36 points at 67-31, Samford finished the game with a 15-1 run to make the final score 82-32.
 
As a team, Samford outrebounded AUM, 41-21. Samford forced AUM into 22 turnovers, while the Bulldogs committed 14 turnovers in the game.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 1-1 on the young season. The game counted as an exhibition game for AUM, so the Warhawks' record remains 4-1.
 
Samford will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the Bulldogs host in-state rival Troy. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.