BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team dropped a 64-52 decision to ETSU Thursday evening in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Thursday night's game was Samford's Play4Kay game, raising money and awareness for the Kay Yow Foundation for cancer research.
 
Samford was led in the game by Hannah Nichols with 17 points. Natalie Armstrong scored nine points, while Charity Brown had seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.
 
For ETSU, Tianna Tarter scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Raven Dean had 12 points and six rebounds. Erica Haynes-Overton added 11 points and five rebounds.
 
The game was tight throughout the first quarter. ETSU was able to build a six-point lead at 17-11 with 1:53 left in the quarter after a layup by Tarter. Samford finished the quarter with back-to-back three-pointers by Cassidy Williams and Nichols and the teams were tied at 17-17 at the end of the first quarter.
 
ETSU pushed its lead back to six points at 23-17 with 7:42 left in the second quarter after a layup by Tarter. Samford fought back to take a 26-25 lead with 3:03 to play in the second quarter following a three-pointer by Shauntai Battle. ETSU, however answered with a 7-0 run to take a 32-26 lead with 54 seconds left before halftime following a free throw by Haynes-Overton. Samantha Fitzgerald and Nichols hit late free throws for Samford to cut the lead to 32-28 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, ETSU led by as many as 10 points at 45-35 with 3:18 to go in the period after a free throw by Tarter. The Bucs held a 50-41 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
 
ETSU extended its lead out to 14 points at 55-41 with 6:48 left in the fourth quarter after a three-point play by Tarter. Samford answered with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 55-50 with 2:48 to go after a three-pointer by Nichols. ETSU, however hit several key free throws down the stretch to pull away for the 64-52 win.
 
As a team, Samford shot 38.3 percent from the floor, compared to 35.5 percent for ETSU. The Bucs won the rebounding battle, 42-33.
 
Samford falls to 14-14 overall and 6-7 in Southern Conference play with the loss. ETSU improves to 18-10 overall and 11-2 in league games with the win.
 
Samford will host Chattanooga for Senior Day Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. Admission to the game is FREE!