BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team played its lone exhibition game of the preseason Monday night, earning a 66-56 win over Shorter in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Samford was led in the contest by junior guard Hannah Nichols with 25 points. She made 9-of-13 shots from the floor in the game. Senior Ellen Riggins scored 15 points and led the team with six rebounds. Senior Brittany Stevens and junior Kassidy Blevins shared the team lead in assists with five each.
 
Shorter was led by Taylor Adams with 14 points and seven rebounds. Kala Tillie had 11 points for the Hawks, while Denise Newton and Roni Richardson added 10 points each for Shorter.
 
Shorter started the first quarter hot, jumping out to a 10-4 lead with 4:10 to go in the period following a layup by Tillie. Samford closed the first quarter on an 11-2 run to take a 15-12 lead following a jumper by Nichols.
 
The teams went back-and-forth early in the second quarter. With Samford trailing, 23-20, the Bulldogs went on a 20-5 run to take a 40-28 lead with 1:22 left in the quarter following a jumper by Riggins. Samford took a 40-31 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 
Early in the third quarter, Samford pushed its lead out to 14 points at 47-33 with 7:13 to go following a three-pointer by Samantha Fitzgerald. The Bulldogs led by 12 points at 53-41 at the end of the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, Shorter was able to close to within six points at 60-54 with 4:59 left to play after a three-pointer by Brittany Greene. Samford scored the next four points to push its lead back to 10 points at 64-54 with 2:03 to go following a layup by Charity Brown. The Bulldogs finished the game with a 66-56 victory.
 
As a team, Samford shot 49.0 percent from the floor, to Shorter's 39.1 percent. Samford out-rebounded Shorter, 31-29.
 
Samford will open the 2016-17 regular season on Friday, Nov. 11, when the Bulldogs play at Georgia Tech. The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. (CT) start from Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The first home regular-season game will be Sunday, Nov. 13, when Samford hosts Memphis at 2 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
To purchase season tickets for the 2016-17 Samford women's basketball season, click on the following link: WBB SEASON TICKETS.