Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Samford women's basketball shot 52.2 percent in the second half to power past Western Carolina 60-50 Monday afternoon during the Catamounts' annual Education Day Game. Over 1,000 area school children were in attendance for the contest.

The Catamounts fall to 8-9 and 0-2 in the Southern Conference while the Bulldogs improve to 9-8 and 2-0 in the conference.

Samford outscored Western Carolina 33-21 in the second half. Trailing by two, 29-27 after the first 20 minutes, the Bulldogs opened the second half on a 14-5 run, in the opening seven minutes of the game. It was just enough padding for Samford as Western Carolina could never recover.

The Catamounts did cut the Samford lead to four, 48-44, with 5:28 left in the game off a jumper by senior guard Justin Taylor. Samford quickly went on a 5-0 run to push its lead back to nine, 53-44, with 3:50 left. Western Carolina was never closer than five points again.

It was all nip and tuck in the first half with the lead changing 10 times. With the game tied at 27, after a pair of free throws by Western Carolina's Ali Lane, Western Carolina took the lead, 29-27, into halftime off a jumper by Ace Easter.

Taylor scored almost half of Western Carolina's 50 points with a game-leading 24. Taylor was near perfection from the field hitting 9-of-10 field goals and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.

Freshman Sherae Bonner got her first start after coming back from injury against the Bulldogs Monday. She had a solid six points and nine rebounds against Samford.

Western Carolina shot 33.3 percent from the field while Samford shot 43.4. The Bulldogs knocked down seven three pointers, four In the first half, while WCU found the net from behind the three point arch two times.

The Bulldogs also narrowly outrebounded Western Carolina 33-32 but did rip down 25 key defensive rebounds. Western Carolina got 33 of its points from its bench but that number is misleading as Taylor, a regular starter, came off the bench against Samford.

Samford was led by Hannah Nichols with 22 points. She was the only Bulldog to score in double figures.

Western Carolina heads on the road for a two-game road swing to Chattanooga and Samford this weekend. The Catamounts will face the Lady Mocss at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 Saturday. WCU will then face Samford, for the second time in three games, at 2 p.m. EDT Monday, Jan. 19.