Samford Takes Down UNC Asheville on Education Day

Monday, November 9

BIrmingham, Ala.

11 AM

Samford University

2-1,0-0SoCon

UNC Asheville

2-1,0-0Big South

Team	1	2	3	4	F
UNC Asheville	14	9	8	9	40
Samford	14	5	13	18	50

Box Score (PDF)

11.9.26 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's basketball team earned a 50-40 victory over UNC Asheville inside of the Pete Hanna Center on Education Day.

Samford improves to 2-1 on the season, while UNC Asheville falls to 2-1.

Briana Rivera led the way for the Bulldogs with 12 points in Monday's contest. Francie Morris added nine points and four rebounds, while Makayla Roberson added eight points and three assists. Kayte-Madison Bjornstad and Carla Baguda shared a team leading seven rebounds.

Samford opened the game with back-to-back lay-ins from Bjornstad and Morris. UNC Asheville scored its first five points and Kaylee Yarbrough cashed in on a jumper, as Samford held a 6-5 lead at the first media timeout at 4:54. Briana Rivera caught fire from deep, hitting a pair of triples, as Samford led 12-10 at the 2:38 mark. Both teams hit a basket in the final two minutes, as the game sat tied at 14 points apiece at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams struggled through the second quarter, combining for 14 points. Makayla Roberson scored the lone Samford field goal, while Morris and Yarbrough added free throws. UNC Asheville took a 23-19 advantage into the break.

Samford got off to a solid start in the third quarter, as Yarbrough found Bjornstad for a lay-in. Roberson and Bjornstad each hit a free throw in the next few minutes to tie the game at 23 points apiece at the 6:42 mark. UNC Asheville outscored Samford 8-4 to jump back ahead 31-27 with 1:20 left in the third quarter. Samford closed the quarter strong, as Rivera hit her third triple and Morris added a driving lay-in to give Samford a 32-31 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Samford continued to push at the beginning of the fourth quarter, as back-to-back three-pointers from Roberson and Rivera sparked a 12-0 run to put Samford ahead by double digits, 44-31, at the 5:46 mark. Both teams traded a basket, before UNC Asheville scored four straight points to cut the Samford lead down to single digits, 46-38, with 3:05 left in the contest.

Yarbrough and Morris combined to hit four free throws down the stretch to secure the 50-40 victory on Education Day.

Samford is back in action later this week with road contests against Indiana (Nov. 13) and Purdue (Nov. 15).

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 /SamfordWBB (Facebook) and @SamfordWBB (Twitter).