Feb. 16, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Belmont outscored Samford 46-26 in the second half to rally and defeat the Bulldogs, 77-70 in Atlantic Sun Women's Basketball action at Seibert Hall Saturday afternoon. Belmont had three players score in double figures led by Natalie Brown's 28 points. The Lady Bruins improved to 18-5, 12-4 in the conference while Samford fell to 3-19 overall and 2-13 in the conference.

Giovanni Price's 21 points led four Samford players in double figures. Morgan Vickery scored 15 points while Jennifer East scored 14 points and Sarah Clements added 11 points.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 16 points in the second half before the Lady Bruins went on a 22-4 run over the first 8:08 in the second half. Belmont's Erica Davenport hit three-pointers and scored 11 of Belmont's point during the run. Davenport's final three-pointer at the 11:52 mark put the Lady Bruins ahead 53-51.

Belmont extended its lead to 61-51 with 9:44 remaining in the game, but Samford went on a 13-0 run to regain the lead 64-61. Vickery's three-point play with 8:03 left in the game cut Belmont's lead to 61-58. Clements then hit a three-pointer with 6:48 on the clock to tie the game. Vickery's three-pointer then put Samford back ahead.

The Bulldogs led 65-64 with 4:27 on the clock but Belmont ended the game on a 13-5 run to get the victory.

Samford came out strong in the first half. The Bulldogs went 9-of-13 from the three-point line in the half for 69 percent. Samford finished the game with a school record 13 three pointers.

A three-pointer by Clarissa Clark started a 14-5 Samford run after the score was tied at 20 with 11:40 remaining in the first half. Noot Pittman's free throw gave the Bulldogs a 34-25 advantage with 5:50 left in th half. Belmont cut the lead to 34-30 on a three-pointer by Hollie Davis but Samford closed out the half with a 10-1 run to take a 44-31 lead into the locker room.

The Bulldogs shot 40.7 percent for the game including a season-high 59 percent from three-point range. Vickery was 4-of-6 from three point range while Price went 3-for-5 from behind the arc. Belmont finished the game shooting 43 percent - 28 percent from three-point range. Samford committed 13 turnovers - eight in the second half while the Lady Bruins only committed nine turnovers.

Samford travels to Buies Creek Thursday to play Campbell at 6 p.m. CT.