Final Stats

The Basics
Score: Samford 57 - Western Carolina 52
Records: Western Carolina 6-17, 2-7 SoCon, Samford 16-8, 8-1 SoCon
Location: Pete Hanna Center - Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Three players scored in double figures as Western Carolina women's basketball dropped a heartbreaker at Samford, 57-52, Saturday in the Pete Hanna Center.

With the game tied at 52, with 1:29 remaining, Samford scored five straight points, including going 3-of-4 from the free throw line, to pull away for the win. In fact, 24 of the Bulldogs' 57 points, in the game, were made for the free throw line as Samford was given 32 free passes at the charity stripe.

Western Carolina had a four point lead, 51-47 with 7:18 left in the game after a three-pointer by senior guard Lindsay Simpson. The Catamounts, however, could only muster one point in the final seven minutes allowing Samford to pull away for the victory.

Julia Brown and Ace Easter each led Western Carolina with 12 points and Simpson followed with 10. Sophomore forward Sherae Bonner ripped down 11 rebounds -- her second straight double figure rebounding performance.

Destiney Elliott led Samford with 17.

Turning Point
Western Carolina didn't score in the final 3:42 of the game, and had only one point in the final seven, allowing Samford to erase a four point, 51-47, deficit. WCU also turned the ball over three times in the last 3:40 and a total of eight in the final 7:18.

Individual Leaders
- Brown and Easter led WCU with 12 points.
- Bonner ripped down 11 rebounds. - Simpson had 10 points.
- Brown just missed a double-double with seven rebounds - which was a career-high.
- Elliott led Samford with 17 points and Amara Mayers followed with 15.

Inside the Box Score
- Samford was 24-of-32 from the free throw line while Western Carolina was only afforded eight trips hitting five.
- Western Carolina held Samford to 35.9 percent from the field while shooting 41.2 percent.
- The Catamounts out-rebounded the Bulldogs 34-28 and held them to just three offensive rebounds.
- Western Carolina had 16 turnovers in the game which turned into 15 Samford points.

News & Notes
- The 52 points scored by the Catamounts on Samford is the most the Bulldogs have allowed in five games.
- With the three-pointer, late in the game, Simpson has now hit at least one three-pointer in the last 12 games.
- Easter's 12 points pushes her consecutive double figure scoring streak to eight.
- Bonner's 11 rebounds gives her seven games this season she has ripped down double figure rebounds.
- Easter is tearing up the SoCon averaging 15.4 points per game against conference opponents.
- Western Carolina is 2-3 in its last five games averaging 65.6 points per game.

Up Next
Western Carolina return s home Thursday, hosting ETSU at 5 p.m., as part of a doubleheader with men's basketball who welcome Chattanooga at 7:30 p.m. in the Ramsey Center.

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