Box Score |   

The Basics
Score: Samford 59 - Western Carolina 42
Records: Western Carolina 4-11, 0-1 SoCon, Samford 9-7, 1-0 SoCon
Location: Ramsey Center - Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's basketball fell to Samford 59-42 Thursday to open Southern Conference play in the Ramsey Center.

The Bulldogs shot a scorching 54.2 percent from the field and held Western Carolina to just 10 points over the course of the first two periods. In the first two periods alone, Samford lit up the court shooting 62.5 percent.

After Western Carolina scored the first basket of the game, a lay-up by Sherae Bonner, the Catamounts were held scoreless for the ensuing six minutes of the first period. In that six minute span, Samford went on an 11-0 run to build an 11-2 lead. The Catamounts scored just four points in the first period and six in the second as Samford scored 17 in the first and 16 in the second. WCU trailed 33-10 at the half.

The Catamounts did put together a solid second half outscoring Samford 19-10 in the fourth period.

Senior guard Lindsay Simpson was the only Catamount to score in double figures with 12 points, scoring seven of her points in the second half. Samford had three players score in double figures led by Krista Stricklin with 15, Destiny Elliott with 14 and Taylor Reece with 10.

Turning Point
Western Carolina was held to 10 points, four in the first period and six in the second, in the first two periods as Samford shot 62.5 percent and scored 33 points in the first two periods.

Individual Leaders
- Simpson led Western Carolina with 12 points.
- Bonner just missed her third straight double figure rebound performance with nine rebounds.
- Stevens led Samford with 15 points.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina scored just 10 points in the first two periods of the game.
- Samford shot a scorching 54.2 percent from the field for the game.
- The Bulldogs outrebounded WCU 34-22 as Western Carolina had only seven offensive rebounds. - Both teams turned the ball over 17 times.
- Samford scored 50 of its 59 points inside the paint.

News & Notes
- Western Carolina scored more points in the third period against Samford, 13, then it did in the first two periods combined - scoring only 10.
- With 12 points against Samford, Western Carolina's Simpson has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
- The 42 points scored by Western Carolina against Samford was a season-low.
- Sophomore Kyia Hough's start against Samford was her first since Nov. 16 against NC State.
- The 54.2 percent Samford shot from the field is the second highest by an opponent this season.
- With the two three pointers by Simpson against Samford she now has 151 in her career ranking her fourth in the Catamount record books - she needs six to move into third.

Up Next
Western Carolina completes a three-game home stand hosting Mercer at 2 p.m. Saturday as part of a doubleheader with men's basketball who will face VMI at 4:30 p.m.

For the latest information on Catamount women's basketball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.