Box Score

The Basics
Score: Samford 62, Western Carolina 54
Records: Western Carolina 3-16, 0-5 SoCon, Samford 9-10, 1-3 SoCon
Location: Pete Hanna Center, Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior forward Sherae Bonner turned in a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds as Western Carolina women's basketball fell on the road to Samford 62-54 Thursday in the Pete Hanna Center.

Leading 52-47 with 7:41 left in the game, Western Carolina went over seven-plus minutes without a field goal to allow Samford to claw back into the game and take the eventual lead and win. The Bulldogs outscored WCU 18-4 in the final 9:35 of the game.

The Catamounts scored just four points in the final seven minutes of the contest -- all from the free throw line. Samford was 5-of-8 from the free throw line in the final 38 seconds of the game.

Turning Point
Tied at 54 Samford drained a three-pointer with 1:27 left in the game to take a 57-54 lead and went on to outscore WCU 8-0 in the final minute and a half of the game. Individual Leaders - Bonner notched her fourth double-double on the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds. - Nikki Jonson and Tembre Moates each had nine points. - Tess Harris and Judith Martin Ruiz each had four assists. - Olivia Crozer led Samford with 14 points.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina was outscored 19-7 in the fourth period.
- Samford shot 41.4 percent from the field while the Catamounts shot 38.9 percent.
- Western Carolina just edged Samford on the rebound front ripping down 40 to the Bulldogs' 35.
- The Catamounts had 16 turnovers in the game and Samford committed just eight. Samford got 15 points off Western Carolina turnovers.
- Western Carolina made five three-pointers in the game.
- The Catamounts did battle in the third period. Finding themselves down by as much as 11, WCU outscored Samford 23-12 to take a 47-43 lead into the fourth period.
- Johnson (33) and Martin Ruiz (36) each played 30 plus minutes in the game.

News & Notes
- After missing six games due to injury, sophomore guard Lauren LaPlant returned to the hardwood against Samford to score five points in 12 minutes of action.
- Bonner's one block in the game against Samford pushed her to 127 in her career tying her for third place in the WCU record books with former Catamount Jeanne Marvel. Bonner now needs one block to take over third place and four to move into fourth to usurp former Catamount standout Brooke Johnson who ended her career with 130.
- Bonner is also moving up the rebounding career list. With 11 rebounds against the Bulldogs, she now has 798 in her career taking over seventh place. Bonner needs just two rebounds to become the eighth player in the Western Carolina women's basketball program's history to have 800 or more rebounds in a career. In fact, Bonner would be the first Catamount in 10 years to rip down 800 or more rebounds in a career. The last Catamount to go over 800 rebounds or more was Chevon Keith who ended her career with 947 in her career from 2004-08.
- Western Carolina has hit five or more three-pointers in the last three games and three or more in the last 11 contests including a season-high eight against High Point.
- With the loss to Samford, Western Carolina is now suffering through a five-game losing streak - all in conference play.

Up Next
Western Carolina completes its two-game road swing traveling to Mercer Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The game can be seen on ESPN3 and heard on the Catamount Sports Network.

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