GAME NOTES--SAMFORD AT LSU (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team (4-8) returns from the Christmas break on Monday, Dec. 27, as the Bulldogs travel to Baton Rouge, La., to face perennial SEC power and 21
st-ranked LSU (10-1). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215) and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.
- Samford and LSU are meeting for just the third time with the series tied at 1-1. The teams last met on Dec. 28, 2015, with Samford earning a 47-44 win over the Tigers. The first meeting in the series came on Nov. 9, 2007, with LSU winning, 86-38 in the first round of the preseason WNIT.
- The Tigers (11-1) are on a roll having won their last 10 games, including recent wins over Clemson (70-56) and Texas Tech (74-60). LSU dropped its second game of the season to Florida Gulf Coast but has won its last 10 games since that setback.
- LSU enters Monday night's game averaging 77.1 points per game, while allowing just 54.6 points per contest. The Tigers currently rank eighth in the nation in rebounding margin, with a +12.5 rebounds per game margin.
- LSU is led by Khayla Pointer, averaging 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She also leads the team and ranks second in the SEC in assists, dishing out 5.0 assists per game. Alexis Morris is second on the team in both scoring (13.7 ppg), and in assists (3.2 apg.). The team leader in rebounding is Autumn Newby, grabbing 7.8 boards per contest.
- Samford is coming to the end of a formidable non-conference schedule with games against LSU (12.27), and Kennesaw State (12.29). The Bulldogs' originally scheduled game at Tennessee Tech for Dec. 21, was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- The Bulldogs are 4-0 on the season when scoring 75 or more points in a game.
- Despite getting the opposition's best defender every night, junior guard Andrea Cournoyer comes into Monday night's game leading the SoCon in scoring at 17.8 points per game while also leading in steals (3.4) per game. Cournoyer's 12 points at Troy pushed her past 1,000 in her career. The Merryville, La., native, has 1,102 career points after scoring 484 points in her two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette and 618 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 1,244 points. The 6-2 center has played in 121 games for the Bulldogs having cleared 609 career rebounds and blocked 131 shots. She is fifth all-time in school history in rebounds and second in blocks. Armstrong is averaging 8.1 points per game this season, ranking 20th in the SoCon.
- Sussy Ngulefac (6-3, Fr., F) has made 68.6 percent of her shots so far this season, which would lead the SoCon if she had enough attempts to qualify. The Lilburn, Ga., native, continues to grow as an inside threat for the Bulldogs, averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. She scored four points and grabbed six rebounds in Friday's loss at Ole Miss.
- Sanaa Redmond enters the week third in the league in assists at 3.2 per game. The freshman from Philadelphia, Pa., scored a career-high 18 against UAB with three assists. Redmond also had four assists at Ole Miss.
- The Bulldogs are shooting 42.0 percent from the floor to rank No. 1 in the SoCon. Samford has made 279-of-655 attempts so far this season. Sussy Ngulefac leads the way shooting 68.6 percent.
- Samford is averaging 61.8 points per game to rank third in the SoCon. The Bulldogs are also sixth in scoring defense at 68.9 points allowed per contest.
- Shauntai Battle is averaging 7.9 points per game to rank 21st in the SoCon. She is seventh in 3-point FG made per game (1.4) as well.
- Preseason All-SoCon selection and junior forward Annie Ramil has been a force on the boards, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game, ranking ninth in the league. She turned in a season-high 16 rebounds in the win over Murray State.
- Mallory Hampton is off to a good start this season, ranking fourth in the SoCon in assists per game (2.7).
UP NEXT: KENNESAW STATE
- Samford wraps up non-conference play on Dec. 29 at the Pete Hanna Center, as the Bulldogs host Kennesaw State. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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