JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— The Samford women's basketball team earned a key Southern Conference road victory, defeating East Tennessee State, 56-51, Saturday afternoon at Brooks Gym.
 
With the win, Samford remains third in the SoCon standings. The Bulldogs improve to 17-10 overall and 9-3 in SoCon games. ETSU falls to 16-12 overall and 8-5 in league games.
 
"I was really pleased with our effort from a defensive standpoint," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "Offensively, I was really proud of how, in the fourth quarter, we answered everything they did. This was a really good win for our basketball team."
 
Samford was led in the game by sophomore forward Destiney Elliott with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior guard Brittany Stevens scored 10 points, while senior center Taylor Reece added nine points.
 
ETSU was led by Shamauria Bridges with 16 points. Tianna Tarter scored 11 points, while Sadasia Tipps added 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Samford started the game hot, taking an early 7-0 lead with 5:35 left in the first quarter following a basket by Elliott. ETSU then scored the next six points to cut the lead to 7-6 with 3:45 left in the quarter after a basket by Shomari Kendrick. Samford scored the final four points of the period to take an 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Samford pushed its lead to 13-8 early in the period on a basket by Elliott. ETSU, however, then went on a 7-0 run to take a 15-13 lead with 6:08 to go after a basket by Bridges. The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes. With the game tied at 17-17, Samford's Stevens hit a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer to give Samford a 20-17 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford pushed its lead out to six points in the third quarter at 25-19 with 7:16 left in the quarter after a layup by Elliott. ETSU scored the next five points to cut the lead to one point at 25-24 with 4:49 left in the period after two free throws by Chandler Christopher. The Bulldogs increased their lead back to five points at 33-28 late in the quarter, but a late Christopher three-pointer cut the lead to 33-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
ETSU took a 34-33 lead with 9:25 left in the game on three free throws by Bridges. Samford then went on a 7-0 run to take a 40-34 lead with 7:43 to go following a three-pointer by Stevens. Bridges then hit a three-pointer for ETSU to cut the lead to 40-37 with 7:24 to go in the contest.
 
Samford then pushed the lead back out to seven points at 44-37 with 5:31 left on a jumper by Reece. After a three-pointer by Tarter cut the lead to four at 44-40, Krista Stricklin hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to seven at 47-40 with 4:38 to play.
 
ETSU cut the lead to three points at 50-47 with 1:32 to play after a jumper by Tarter. Amara Mayers answered with a layup to make the score 52-47 with 1:03 left. A layup by Stevens and a free throw each by Lydia McGee and Ellen Riggins down the stretch helped Samford to hang on for the 56-51 win.
 
As a team, Samford made 44.9 percent of its shots, compared to 35.3 percent for ETSU. The Bucs won the rebounding battle, 35-32.
 
Samford will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 25, when the Bulldogs host Furman. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.