Feb. 2, 2002

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - Jennifer East and Natalie McLendon each recorded career highs but Troy State went 6-6 from the free throw line in the final 48 seconds to escape with 62-57 win over Samford Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Sun women's basketball action.

East had a career day as she scored half of the Bulldogs 28 points in the first half. She also hit a big three-point shot with 1:30 remaining in the game which brought Samford to within one point at 56-55. East finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 36 minutes of work. McLendon matched her career high in points with 13. She added a season-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and the second of her career. Morgan Vickery grabbed a season-high seven rebounds as Samford out rebounded Troy State 54-33. The 54 boards are a season-high for the Bulldogs who dropped to 1-17 on the season and 0-11 in conference play.

Troy State (6-12, 5-6 A-Sun) began the game with an 11-0 run over the first six minutes and forced Samford into 11 first half turnovers. The Lady Trojans placed four players in double figures led by Kerri Fiehrer who scored 17 points. Chaquita Alexander, Thea Herring, and Laurie Tinsley each finished with 14 points.

Clarissa Clark finally got Samford on the scoreboard at the 13:51 mark and began a 13-3 Samford run as Troy State failed to score for almost five minutes. Samford's zone defense held Troy State's inside game in check as six of TSU's eight baskets in the first half were three pointers. East completed the comeback make making a pair of free throws with 1:40 remaining in the half to give Samford its first lead at 23-21. Samford went into the locker room with a 28-26 lead. It was only the second time all season the Bulldogs had the lead at halftime.

In the second half Troy State made an effort to establish an inside game. Herring scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half. The Lady Trojans re-took the lead, 35-32, on a three-point basket by Fiehrer. TSU went 10-34 from three-point range in the game. The Lady Trojans would lead by as much as eight points, 48-40, with 7:50 to play but Samford had one more run left. The Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to pull to within two with 5:38 left. East's three-pointer with 1:30 to play brought the Bulldogs to within one point but Troy State made their three throws at the end to get the victory. Troy State was 16-23 from the line in the game 12-15 in the second half.

Samford's rebounding edge produced 16 second chance point for the Bulldogs to only two for Troy State but Troy State held a 24-7 edge in points off turnovers. Samford turned the ball over 19 times in the game to only 11 for the Lady Trojans.

Both teams will be back in action on Monday night. Samford will travel to Macon, Ga., for a 7 p.m. ET game at Mercer. Troy State will remain at home for a 7 p.m. CT game against Jacksonville State.