MONTGOMERY, Ala.—The Samford women's basketball team earned a 54-35 road win at Alabama State Thursday night in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
 
"I was pleased with our defensive effort, coming in here and holding them to 35 points," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We started the second half poorly, but I was pleased with the way we responded in the third period. We really finished the game over the last 15 or 16 minutes in total domination."
 
Samford improves to 7-5 with the win. The game was the eighth-straight road game for the Bulldogs, who are in the middle of a 10-game road swing. Alabama State falls to 1-7 with the loss.
 
For Samford in the win, Amara Mayers scored a career-high 18 points, and pulled down six rebounds. Ellen Riggins scored 13 points, while Destiney Elliott had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.
 
Alabama State was led by Shamyiah Smith with 13 points and five rebounds. Britney Wright added eight points for the Lady Hornets.
 
In the first quarter, after Alabama State hit the first shot of the game, Samford went on a 7-0 run to take a 7-2 lead with 3:50 to go after a three-point play by Mayers. Two late Alabama State free throws cut Samford's lead to 7-4 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Samford opened up a six-point lead at 12-6 with 7:26 to go in the second quarter after a three-pointer by Riggins. ASU fought back to cut the lead to 12-10 with 6:24 left in the period. Samford scored five of the next six points to push its lead to 17-11 with 3:23 to go in the period after a basket by Mayers. Samford took a 22-15 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Alabama State cut the Samford lead to just three points in the third quarter at 25-22 with 4:46 to go in the period after a layup by Smith. With Samford holding a 29-26 advantage, the Bulldogs scored the final six points of the third quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 35-26 lead heading into the final period.
 
Samford opened the fourth quarter with a 10-3 run to stretch its lead to 45-29 with 5:29 left in the game following a layup by Mayers. Samford eventually pushed its lead out to as much as 21 points at 54-33 with 1:32 left in the contest. A late ASU jumper made the final scored 54-35.
 
As a team, Samford shot 41.3 percent overall and 26.3 percent from three-point range. Alabama State shot 31.1 percent overall, and the Lady Hornets were 0-for-9 from beyond the arc. Samford won the rebounding battle, 32-30.
 
Samford will return to action on Monday, Dec. 21, when the Bulldogs play at cross-town rival UAB. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from Bartow Arena.