Feb. 15, 2003

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - Chaquita Alexander scored a game-high 20 points to lead three Lady Trojans in double figures and Troy State overcame a 26-24 halftime deficit to defeat Samford, 55-45, Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena in Atlantic Sun Women's basketball action. Samford fell to 5-17 and 1-10 in the A-Sun while TSU improved to 13-9 and 8-3 in conference.

Lindsey Harris scored 14 points to lead Samford while Cora Beth Smith added 11 points. Samford shot 34 percent in the game while Troy State shot 42 percent from the field. Kim McGriff and Thea Herring each added 10 points for the Lady Trojans.

Samford held a 26-24 lead at the intermission. The Bulldogs shot 39 percent from the floor including 50 percent from 3-point range. The Bulldogs overcame a 7-0 deficit with a 9-2 run to tie the game, 9-9, with 11:29 left in the game. Alexander's jumper with 4:34 left in the half capped off a 13-8 Lady Trojan run giving TSU a 22-17 lead. Samford went on a 9-0 run behind two 3-pointers by Harris giving the Bulldogs a 26-22 lead with 1:10 left. McGriff's buzzer beater made for the 26-24 halftime score.

The Bulldogs opened up the second half with an 8-0 run behind 3-pointers by Harris and Chelsee Insell to take a 34-24 lead with 17:22 remaining. TSU came within 34-30, but Smith nailed a 3-pointer to make it 39-32 with 13:08 remaining. TSU's Kim McGriff scored six of her 10 points during an 11-0 run to push Troy State ahead for good. Constance Kelly's basket with 8:11 left gave TSU a 41-39 advantage. The Lady Trojans outscored Samford, 23-6, over the final 13 minutes, including eight points from Herring in the final four minutes.

Insell finished with eight points for Samford. Samford out-rebounded Troy State, 32-28, but the Bulldogs committed 16 turnovers and only shot 29 percent in the second half.

Samford returns to Atlantic Sun Northern Divisional play when it hosts Gardner-Webb at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team.