BOX SCORE (PDF)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The fifth-seeded Samford women's basketball team survived a tight battle with fourth-seeded Furman for a 59-58 victory in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Tournament Thursday at the U.S. Cellular Center.


 
With the win, Samford improves to 15-15 on the season. The Bulldogs advance to Friday's semifinal round where they will take on top-seeded and 25^th-ranked Mercer at 10 a.m. (CT). This marks the eighth time in the last 10 years Samford has reached the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament. Furman ends its season with a record of 17-13.
 
"I'm definitely pleased with our team," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "I thought we started the game really well, but they (Furman) are a well-coached team. When they took the lead, we didn't fold. Olivia (Crozier) had a huge offensive rebound and an even bigger three down the stretch. It was a typical game against Furman. It was a gritty win."
 
Olivia Crozier led Samford with 17 points. Hannah Nichols posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Charity Brown added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
 
For Furman, Cierra Carter had 16 points and seven rebounds. Celena Taborn had 15 points and six rebounds, while Le'Jzae Davidson added 13 points for the Paladins.


 
Samford raced out to an early five-point lead at 7-2 with 6:05 to go in the first quarter after a three-pointer by Nichols. With Samford leading, 12-9, the Bulldogs scored the final six points of the quarter and Samford held an 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Samford pushed its lead out to 11 points at 20-9 early in the second quarter following a layup by Cassidy Williams. Furman answered with a 9-1 run to cut the lead to three points at 21-18 with 2:51 left in the second period. Samford pushed its lead back out to nine points at 30-21 with 48 seconds left before halftime after a layup by Crozier. Samford held a 30-23 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford increased its lead to nine points at 32-23 early in the third quarter, but Furman answered with a 9-2 run to cut the lead to two points at 34-32 with 5:57 left in the third period after two free throws by Carter. Samford pushed the lead back to eight points at 42-34 with 3:35 left in the quarter after a free throw by Shauntai Battle. Furman fought back to cut the lead to just one point at 42-41 with 2:02 left in the period. Samford scored six of the final eight points in the quarter and the Bulldogs led, 48-43 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Furman opened the fourth quarter with a 9-4 run to knot the score at 52-52 with 5:19 to go after a free throw by Taborn. Furman took its only lead of the game at 58-57 with 1:37 to go following a jumper by DeAnneisha Jackson. After back-to-back empty possessions by the two team, Battle's jumper was blocked, but Nichols grabbed the offensive rebound and hit a layup for a 59-58 Samford lead with 23 seconds to go.
 
Taborn took a jumper for the lead with four seconds left, but Samford's Samantha Fitzgerald blocked the shot and Samford took over possession. The Bulldogs missed two free throws with one second left, but time ran out on Furman before the Paladins could get a shot off and Samford came away with the 59-58 win.
 
As a team, Samford shot 41.1 percent from the floor, while Furman made 44.7 percent of its shots. Samford won the rebounding battle, 35-28.
 
Friday's semifinal game against Mercer is scheduled for a 10 a.m. (CT) start. The game can be seen live on ESPN3.