GAME NOTES: UAB @ Samford (12.12.21)
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Bulldogs (3-6) conclude their four-game homestand on Sunday, Dec. 12, as Samford hosts the Blazers (5-2) of Alabama-Birmingham. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Pete Hanna Center. Curt Bloom (PxP) and Emily L. Swaim will hav e the call on ESPN+.   

Samford and UAB are meeting for the 10th time on the hardwood Sunday with the Blazers owning 7-2 edge all-time in the series.  The two clubs last met on Dec. 3, 2019, as Samford fell 76-69 at UAB Arena. In fact, the Blazers have won the last three meetings between the crosstown rivals.   

Alabama-Birmingham is coming into the contest on a two-game win streak after defeating Miles (72-62) and Chattanooga (67-52). The Blazers (5-2) dropped back-to-back games on a West Coast swing at San Diego State (51-55) and Pepperdine (66-50) prior to the streak. UAB opened the season with three straight victories.  

Nigeria Jones scored a career-high 28 points to lead Alabama A&M (1-6) to a 72-47 victory over the Samford on Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs, who saw their four-game win streak over AAMU snapped, were led by Andrea Cournoyer with 16 points while Natalie Armstrong chipped in 11 points and six rebounds.

Samford is coming to the end of a formidable non-conference schedule with games against Alabama A&M (12.9), UAB (12.12), Ole Miss (12.17), LSU (12.27), and Kennesaw State (12.29) still on the docket.


SCOUT THE BULLDOGS:
The Bulldogs (3-7) of Samford are 3-0 on the season when scoring 75 or more points in a game.

Despite getting the oppositions best defender every night, junior guard Andrea Cournoyer comes into Sunday's game tied for No. 1 in the SoCon in scoring at 16.1 points while leading in steals (3.5) per game. Cournoyer's 12 points at Troy pushed her past 1,000 in her career. The Merryville, La., native, has 1,054 career points after scoring 489 points in her two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette and 565 here at Samford. The multi-faceted guard played in 22 games for the Bulldogs while being named the 2020-21 SoCon Player of the Year. Cournoyer averaged a league-high 18.4 points per game while contributing 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. She was also a unanimous selection to the All-SoCon First Team.

Natalie Armstrong has moved into sixth place on the Samford all-time scoring list with 1,228 points. The 6-2 center has played in 120 games for the Bulldogs, scoring 1,228 points in her illustrious career. The Norcross, Ga., native, has also cleared 603 career rebounds and blocked 131 shots. She is fifth all-time in school history in rebounds and second in blocks.

Sussy Ngulefac scored a career-high 17 points at Troy followed by 16 points versus Talladega.  The Lilburn, Ga., native, continues to grow as an inside threat for the Bulldogs, averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds.

Mallory Hampton and Sanaa Redmond, a pair of freshman guards, are currently tied for third in the Southern Conference in assists per game, averaging 3.1 assists per contest. Hampton scored a career-high 18 points versus Talladega while handing out six assists in the win. Redmond dished out a career best nine assists versus Montevallo earlier this year.

The Bulldogs are shooting 40.8 percent from the floor to rank No. 1 in the SoCon. Samford has made 228-of-559 attempts so far this season. Sussy Ngulefac leads the way shooting 72.5 percent followed by Kiersten Nelson at 55.6 percent.  

Samford enters Sunday's showdown with Alabama-Birmingham averaging 61.6 points per game to rank third in the SoCon. The Bulldogs are also sixth in scoring defense at 68.6 points allowed per contest. Samford scored a season-high 88 points in an 88-70 victory over Talladega College at the Pete Hanna Center.

Shauntai Battle is having a solid senior season after coming back from an injury-shortened 2020-21 campaign. The Mobile, Ala., native, is averaging 8.5 points per game to rank 18th in the SoCon. She is seventh in 3-point FG made per game (1.5) as well.   

Preseason All-SoCon selection and junior forward Annie Ramil has been a force on the boards, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game, ranking ninth in the league. She turned in a season-high 15 rebounds at No. 9 Iowa.
 

UP NEXT: OLE MISS
The Bulldogs will travel to Oxford, Miss., on Friday, Dec. 17 to face the Ole Miss Rebels. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be carried on ESPN+.


FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford women's basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordWomensBasketball (Facebook), @SamfordWBB (Instagram) and @SamfordWBB (Twitter).