Women's Hoops Falls To Southeast Missouri, 69-60 :: The Bulldogs drop to 6-4 overall and 0-2 in OVC play with the loss

Dec. 18, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team dropped a 69-60 decision to defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Southeast Missouri Tuesday night at the Pete Hanna Center.

With the loss, Samford drops to 6-4 overall and 0-2 in the OVC, while SEMO is now 6-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

"I was disappointed in the way we started the game," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "But, I was pleased with the way we came back and took the lead and the way we started the second half. We had an opportunity to take advantage of that and build a lead in the second half, but you have to give SEMO credit. That's why they were picked first, they are a good team."

Senior guard Taryn Towns led Samford with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Freshman guard Emily London also had 15 points in the game. Junior forward Chika Okoli added 12 points for the Bulldogs.

Sonya Daugherty led SEMO with 21 points. Rachel Blunt scored 16 points on the night for the Redhawks.

The teams played close early in the first half, but with the score tied, 5-5, SEMO went on a 13-0 run to take an 18-5 lead with 14:15 to play in the first half after a three-pointer by Daugherty.

With SEMO leading, 28-18 late in the half, Samford went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one at 28-27 with 1:54 to play in the half after a layup by Towns. SEMO held a 33-31 lead going into halftime.

Samford opened the second half strong, building a six-point lead at 41-35 with 16:36 to go after a layup by Okoli. SEMO answered with a 10-0 run to take a 45-41 lead with 13:15 to play after a three-pointer by Tierra Johnson.

With the Redhawks leading, 48-43, Samford scored six of the next seven points to tie the score at 49-49 with 10:19 left in the game following a three-pointer by London.

The game was close for the next several minutes until, with the score tied at 56-56, SEMO went on a 10-0 run to take a 66-56 lead with 48 seconds to go, and the Redhawks held on for the 69-60 win.

Samford will return to action on Thursday night when the Bulldogs play host to Murray State at 5:30 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center.