BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior forward Annie Ramil scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds as the Bulldog women's basketball team earned a 73-61 win over ETSU Monday evening at the Pete Hanna Center.
With the win, Samford improves to 10-13 overall and 5-4 in SoCon play. ETSU falls to 3-19 overall and 2-7 in league play.
"I think that was the best first quarter we've played in a long time, I think we came out as the aggressor, which is what we needed from this team," Samford head coach Carley Kuhns said. "I'm really proud of our start. I thought we got a little sloppy there in the second and third quarters. It's our third game in six days, and I just knew it was going to come down to toughness. I'm just proud of our team of being mentally and physically tough and for finishing the game."
Ramil made 3-of-6 shots from the floor, including 1-of-1 from three-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. The double-double is her second of the season and eighth of Ramil's Samford career. Sussy Ngulefac scored 11 points, while Natalie Armstrong and Audra Leipold had 10 points each. Andrea Cournoyer had nine points and a team-high five assists.
ETSU was led by Carly Hooks with 15 points and six rebounds. Jakhyla Davis added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bucs.
Samford jumped out to an early 9-4 lead with 6:03 to go in the first quarter after a layup by Armstrong. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 11 points at 19-8 on two free throws by Mallory Hampton with 22 seconds to go in the first quarter. Samford held the 19-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead out to 14 points at 22-8 on a three-pointer by Shauntai Battle with 9:47 to go in the second quarter. Samford led by as many as 22 points at 33-11 in the second period. With Samford leading, 35-15, ETSU scored the final six points of the quarter and Samford took a 35-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Samford pushed the lead back out to 18 points at 39-21 with 9:25 left in the third quarter on a layup by Sanaa Redmond. ETSU answered with an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 12 points at 41-29 with 5:38 left in the period following a layup by Hooks. Back-to-back three-pointers by Leipold and Cournoyer pushed Samford's lead back to 18 points at 47-29 with 4:23 left in the third quarter. ETSU fought back to cut the lead to 10 points at 54-44 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs extended their lead back out to 14 points at 60-56 with 7:38 to go after a layup by Armstrong. The Bucs came back to cut the lead to just nine points at 66-57 with 2:44 to go. Samford pushed the lead back out to 13 points at 70-57 with 1:41 left after two free throws by Ramil. ETSU could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way as Samford pulled out the 73-61 win.
Samford will play host to the UNCG Spartans on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. Admission to all home women's basketball games is free.
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).
