Women's Basketball Downs EKU, 71-48, On Senior Day :: The win clinches a first-round home game in the OVC Tournament

Feb. 16, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team placed four players in double figures in scoring and held Eastern Kentucky to 31 percent shooting as the Bulldogs defeated the Lady Colonels, 71-48, in an Ohio Valley Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.

"I thought the difference in this game as opposed to the last couple of games was, we started the game off right," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We didn't get behind early and we were able to keep that going to have probably the most complete game we've played."

With the win, Samford improves to 20-6 overall and 13-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The is the seventh in a row for Samford and it clinches a first-round home game in the OVC Tournament for the Bulldogs, which is scheduled for March 4. The win also gives Samford 20 wins for just the second time in program history. EKU drops to 12-10 overall and 7-8 in league play with the loss.

Samford was led in scoring by sophomore Monica Maxwell with 18 points. Senior Taryn Towns scored 13 points, while senior Alex Munday and freshman Emily London added 10 points each.

EKU was led by Shavonne Jones with 12 points and Crystal Jones with 11 points.

Samford jumped out to an early 11-2 lead with 17:05 to play in the first half after a three-pointer by Maxwell. EKU, however, answered with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to two at 11-9 with 15:23 to play in the opening half.

With Samford leading, 15-13, the Bulldogs went on a 14-1 run to push their lead to 15 at 29-14 with 7:50 left in the first half after a three-pointer by London. EKU fought back to cut the lead to nine at 32-23 with 3:00 to go in the half, but Samford closed the half with an 8-0 run to take a 40-23 lead into halftime.

EKU cut the Samford lead to 13 at 40-27 early in the second half. With Samford leading by 12 at 47-35, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run to push their lead to 21 at 56-35 with 12:16 left in the game after a jumper by Karmen Smith.

EKU cut the lead to 16 at 56-40, but the Lady Colonels could get no closer as Samford pushed its lead to as much as 27 at 71-44 with 2:35 to play, and the Bulldogs came away with the 71-48 win.

Prior to the game, Samford honored its three seniors, Towns, Munday and MaKenzie Spruiell. The 2008 senior class has the most wins of any class in program history. Saturday's win was the 72nd win for the current senior class.

Samford will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 21, when the Bulldogs play at Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/groups/wvsu/. The game can also be viewed on the internet at www.ovcsports.tv.