Feb. 24, 2004

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Cora Beth Smith matched her career high with 18 points while Giovanni Price recorded a season high 13 points, but Jacksonville State came away with a 69-61 Ohio Valley Conference victory at Pete Mathews Coliseum Tuesday night. Freshman Veronica Pike also tied a career high with 13 points for Samford.

Shanika Freeman led JSU (16-9, 10-5 OVC) with 16 points and the Gamecocks went 24-34 from the free throw line. Cobie Carlisle had 12 points and Kelly Nye added 11 points for JSU.

Samford (9-16, 2-13 OVC) pulled to within 66-61 with 1:53 left to play, but the Bulldogs missed three-point shots on back-to-back possessions before being forced to foul in the final minute.

"I didn't think we came out with fire and enthusiasm tonight," said Samford head coach Mike Morris. "It is hard for us to win when we do not have those two things. We were not thinking far enought ahead and we were a step slow," he added.

Smith scored six of Samford's first eight points as the Bulldogs held an 8-5 advantage early in the game. JSU took an 18-17 lead with 8:09 remaining in the half and a 32-26 lead into halftime. The Gamecocks would not trail the rest of the way.

Pike scored 12 of her 13 points in the second half, including a stretch where she scored nine straight points for the Bulldogs.

Jacksonville State held a 41-29 rebounding advantage while shooting 43 percent for the game. Samford shot 40 percent for the game but shot just 17 free throws, compared to 34 for the home team.

Samford will return to action on Thursday night as the Bulldogs will honor its lone senior player Price and student assistant Jennifer East prior to the 5 p.m. game in Seibert Hall. Fans can watch and listen to the game online in live audio and video online on the MaxVU Sports Broadcasting Network beginning with the pre-game show at 4:45.