GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Samford women's basketball team picked up its first road win of the 2017-18 season with a 60-53 victory at UNCG Thursday night at Fleming Gymnasium.
 
Hannah Nichols led Samford with 16 points and five rebounds. Cassidy Williams and Natalie Armstrong added 15 points each for the Bulldogs.
 
Ije Ajemba led UNCG with 18 points and eight rebounds. Brandi Fier added 10 points and five rebounds for the Spartans.
 
After the two teams traded baskets for the first couple of minutes of the game, UNCG went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-4 lead with 6:05 left in the first quarter after a layup by Ajemba. Samford answered with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 11-10 with 2:54 left in the first quarter after a free throw by Charity Brown. Samford tied the game at 17-17 late in the quarter, but a late three-pointer gave UNCG a 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
UNCG extended its lead to eight points at 29-21 with 5:25 left in the second quarter after a jumper by Fier. Samford, however, closed the quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 30-29 lead into the locker room at halftime following a pair of free throws by Paige Serup.
 
UNCG opened the third quarter with a 9-1 run to take a 38-31 lead with 5:40 left in the quarter after two free throws by Ajemba. With UNCG leading, 45-39, Samford closed the period with a 7-1 run to knot the score at 46-46 at the end of the third quarter following a three-pointer by Armstrong.
 
Samford opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to take a 54-48 lead with 7:36 left after a three-pointer by Nichols. UNCG, however, scored the next five points to cut the Samford lead to just one point at 54-53 with 6:27 left in the game. The Samford defense, however, held UNCG scoreless for the remainder of the game as the Bulldogs closed the contest with a 6-0 run to pull away for the 60-53 victory.
 
As a team, Samford shot 39.2 percent from the floor, while UNCG made 39.3 percent of its shots. Samford won the rebounding battle, 34-33.
 
Samford improves to 13-13 overall and 5-6 in Southern Conference play with the win. UNCG falls to 11-15 overall and 5-7 in SoCon games.
 
Samford will return to action on Saturday, when the Bulldogs play at Western Carolina. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. (CT) start from Cullowhee, N.C.