Feb. 1, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UCF's Shayla Smith scored a career-high 13 points and Samford shot 25 percent from the field as the Golden Knights pulled away to defeat the Bulldogs, 71-49, in Atlantic Sun Conference women's basketball action at Seibert Hall Saturday afternoon. Samford fell to 4-14 and 0-7 in the A-Sun while UCF improved to 10-8 and stayed atop the A-Sun South Division at 6-1.

Freshman guard Chelsee Insell topped her career-high for the second game in a row with a game-high 19 points. Insell went 6-of-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs shot 20 percent from the field and 15 percent from 3-point range in the second half while UCF shot 46 percent and 57 percent from the 3-point range in the half. The Golden Knights finished the game shooting 43 percent.

UCF extended its halftime lead to 28-23 with 18:25 left in the game. Che' Walker and Noot Pittman combined for three free throws pulling Samford within 28-26 with 16:43 left on the clock. But, UCF went on a 12-5 run to take a 41-31 lead at the 13:27 mark of the second half.

Smith stretched UCF's lead to 49-33 with a 3-pointer with 11:01 remaining. Walker made two free throws to help the Bulldogs within 49-35 with 9:18 remaining, but the Golden Knights made a 10-3 run taking a 59-38 lead with about six minutes remaining. Insell nailed two 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the game for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs overcame an early 12-6 deficit to only trail 25-23 at the break. After Marvelous Washington completed a 3-point play giving the Golden Knights the 12-6 advantage with 9:38 left. Insell scored six straight points to tie the game, 12-12, with 7:14 remaining before halftime. After three more ties, Washington made a jumper in the lane with 30 seconds left giving the Golden Knights the 25-23 halftime lead.

Washington and Ali Roberts each finished with nine points for UCF. Walker added eight points for Samford.

The Bulldogs continue play against Atlantic Sun South Division opponents next Thursday when they host Stetson in the first game of a doubleheader at 4:45 p.m.