VIDEO RECAP

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—The Furman women's basketball team shot 57.5 percent from the floor, while holding Samford to 36.7 percent as the Paladins eliminated the Bulldogs from the Southern Conference Tournament, 65-54, Thursday afternoon at Kimmel Arena.
 
"I thought Furman played very well," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "Obviously, they shot the ball well. Particularly from an offensive standpoint, they were hitting on all cylinders. We had a lull for the last seven or eight minutes of the first half that probably ended up being the difference."
 
Samford was led by sophomore guard Brittany Stevens with a career-high 17 points. Stevens also had five rebounds and five steals in the game. Freshman forward Destiney Elliott scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.
 
For Furman, Whitney Bunn led the way with 24 points. Bunn made 8-of-13 shots from the floor, including 7-of-9 from three-point range. Holli Wilkins added 14 points and six rebounds for the Paladins.
 
The teams traded baskets early in the first half, until with Furman leading, 7-5, Samford went on an 8-0 run to take a 13-7 lead with 14:01 to go in the half after a layup by Lydia McGee. Samford pushed its lead out to six points at 18-12 with 10:17 to go in the opening period following a three-pointer by McGee.
 
Furman, however, answered with a 9-0 run to take a 21-18 lead with 6:58 to go after a basket by Sarah Durdaller. Samford fought back to take the lead again at 24-23 with 5:48 to go following a layup by Elliott. Furman, however, closed the half on a 14-2 run to take a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford started the second half well, cutting the Furman lead to five points at 39-34 with 17:26 to go in the game following a three-pointer by Taylor Reece. Furman then pushed its lead back out to 11 points at 47-36 with 14:12 to go after a three-pointer by Bunn.
 
The Paladins extended their lead to 13 points at 56-43 with 8:30 to go after another three-pointer by Bunn. Samford could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way as Furman came away with the 65-54 win.
 
Samford ends its season at 15-15. Furman improves to 18-12. The Paladins advance to the tournament semifinals where they will take on top-seeded Chattanooga.