MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Samford women's basketball team battled the Memphis Tigers in close game most of the way before falling by a score of 88-75.
 
With the loss, Samford fell to 0-3 on the season. Memphis improved its record to 2-1 with the victory.
 
Emily Bowman led Samford with her second double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Freshman Claire Johnson scored in double figures for the second time in her three college games, adding 13 points for the Bulldogs. Annie Ramil also had a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards.
 
For Memphis, Alaysia Smith led the way with 28 points and seven rebounds. Tanyuel Welch had 16 points, while Hannah Riddick and Tilly Boller added 14 points each.
 
Samford started the game off hot, racing out to a 14-4 lead with 6:26 to go in the first quarter after a three-point play by Sierra Godbolt. The Bulldogs built their lead to 12 points at 18-6, but Memphis closed the quarter with a 12-1 run to cut Samford's lead to 19-18 at the end of the first period.
 
In the second quarter, Memphis built a nine-point lead at 34-25 with 5:19 left in the period following a jumper by Welch. Samford fought back to cut the lead to three points at 38-35 with 2:39 left in the second quarter after a layup by Bowman. Samford closed to within one point at 42-41 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford built a five-point lead at 49-44 with 5:55 left in the third quarter after a three-pointer by Johnson. Memphis fought back to take a 53-51 lead after a layup by Welch with 3:40 left in the third quarter. The Tigers built their lead to six points at 63-57 at the end of the third period.
 
Memphis built its lead to 15 points at 74-59 with 5:47 left in the game after a jumper by Smith. The Tigers maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way as they came away with the 88-75 win.
 
Samford will next play at Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 14. The game is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Tallahassee, Florida.
 
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