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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team built a big second-half lead and held on late for a 51-50 Southern Conference victory over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The win ends a four-game losing streak for Samford and improves the Bulldogs' record to 10-16 overall and 3-8 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina falls to 7-19 overall and 2-9 in league games.
 
"We needed something positive to happen for our team," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We've been working hard, we've gotten better, but we've still lost, so just to get a win I think is really good for our team. Hopefully we can continue to work and get better at what we're doing as we go down the stretch."
 
Samford was led in the game by senior Brittany Stevens and junior Hannah Nichols with 10 points each. Junior Kassidy Blevins scored nine points, while senior Ellen Riggins had seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
 
"This win means a lot," Stevens said. "We've put in a lot of work and we've been playing better during the second half of conference play. We've been losing close games, so just to get a win and have something pay off really means a lot."
 
For Western Carolina, Sherae Bonner led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Tess Harris added 12 points for the Catamounts.
 
Samford jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with 6:40 to go in the first quarter after a three-pointer by Stevens. After WCU tied the score at 5-5, Samford closed the first quarter on a 13-0 run to take an 18-5 lead at the end of the first quarter following a jumper by Samantha Fitzgerald.
 
Western Carolina opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the Samford lead to 18-13 with 7:37 left in the period after a three-point play by Bonner. With Samford leading, 22-17, the Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run to push its lead back out to 11 points at 30-19 with 2:38 left in the period following a three-pointer by Nichols. Western Carolina scored the final four points of the quarter to cut Samford's lead to 30-23 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford opened the third quarter on a 10-4 run to push its lead back out to 13 points at 40-27 with 6:33 left in the period after a three-point play by Blevins. Western Carolina scored the next six points to cut the lead back to seven points at 40-33 with 4:28 left in the quarter after a three-pointer by Harris. After Samford pushed its lead back out to nine points at 42-33, two late layups by Western Carolina cut the lead to 42-37 heading into the final period.
 
In the fourth quarter, Samford pushed its lead back out to six at 45-39 with 6:19 left after a three-pointer by Blevins. WCU fought back to cut the lead to two points at 45-43 with 3:51 to go after a jumper by Kyia Hough. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes. With Samford leading, 51-47, WCU's Harris drained a three-pointer with four seconds to go to cut the lead to 51-50.  Samford, however was able to hold on for the one-point win.
 
For the game, Samford shot 40.9 percent overall and 36.8 percent from three-point range. Western Carolina made 36.8 percent of its shots overall and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Western Carolina won the rebounding battle, 34-31.
 
Saturday's game was Samford's Play4Kay game, benefitting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Overall, Samford raised $2,845 for the fund.
 
Samford will return to action on Feb. 16, when the Bulldogs play at Furman. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start from Greenville, S.C.