BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford women's basketball team used a strong second-half effort to pull away from UNCG for an 80-49 Southern Conference win Thursday afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The win is the fifth-straight victory for Samford. The Bulldogs improve to 15-8 overall and 7-1 in SoCon play. UNCG falls to 8-15 overall and 0-8 in league games.
 
Samford shot 50.8 percent for the game, including a 59.3-percent effort in the second half. Samford broke open a close game by outscoring UNCG, 24-9 in the third quarter.
 
"I was really pleased with how we controlled the third quarter," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We did a good job of not turning the ball over. We had four people in double figures. When we don't turn the ball over and we get it inside, I think we can be a very good scoring team."
 
The game marked the second time this season Samford has scored at least 80 points. The Bulldogs reached the mark in an 82-32 win over Auburn-Montgomery on Nov. 15.
 
Samford was led in scoring by Kassidy Blevins with 17 points. Lydia McGee had 12 points and nine rebounds. Brittany Stevens recorded her first career double-double with 11 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and six assists. Amara Mayers added 10 points for the Bulldogs.
 
For UNCG, Keli Foster led the way with 19 points. Lucy Mason followed with 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
Samford jumped out to an early lead at 7-2 with 6:04 left in the first quarter following a three-point play by Mayers. UNCG closed to within three points at 7-4 and 9-6. With Samford leading, 14-8, UNCG used a late layup by Mason and a free throw by Jade Scaife to cut the lead to 14-11 after one period.
 
In the second quarter, Samford pushed its lead to eight points at 19-11 with 7:52 left in the period after a layup by McGee. UNCG fought back to cut the lead to just three at 19-16, but Samford pushed the lead back out to nine at 28-19 with 3:46 to go in the period. Samford took a 34-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford opened the third quarter with an 18-5 run to take a 52-29 lead with 4:02 left in the period after a layup by Mayers. The Bulldogs built a 25-point lead at 56-31 with 2:51 left in the quarter following a pair of free throws by Stevens. Samford held a 58-33 advantage after three periods.
 
In the fourth quarter, Samford pushed its lead out to 29 points at 62-33 with 9:10 left in the game after a layup by Blevins. UNCG could get no closer than 24 points the rest of the way, as Samford came away with the 31-point win, 80-49.
 
Samford held UNCG to just 35.2-percent shooting for the game. Samford won the rebounding battle, 41-31. The Bulldogs forced UNCG into 13 turnovers, while committing nine turnovers of their own.
 
Samford will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 6, when the Bulldogs play host to Western Carolina. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start from the Pete Hanna Center.