March 1, 2003

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Noot Pittman scored a career-high and game-high 26 points and recorded her third double-double of the season, but Belmont put three players in double figures as the Bruins held off Samford, 66-53, in Atlantic Sun Women's Basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Aquinas Center. Chasity Campbell and Natalie Brown each led Belmont (17-8, 8-6 A-Sun) with 20 points.

The Bulldogs (6-19, 2-12 A-Sun) shot 43 percent from the field but only went 4-for-15 from behind the arc. Belmont shot 53 percent from the game and 73 percent from 3-point range. Lindsey Harris scored 13 points for Samford.

Pittman finished the game 12-of-17 from floor. She scored 16 points in the second half to help Samford within four points.

Samford got within 32-27 with 16:37 left in the second half on Chelsee Insell's 3-pointer. Pittman's jumper cut it to 46-42 with 9:15 left. Another layup by Pittman made it 48-44 with 7:48 on the clock, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get. Brown hit two 3-pointer to push the Bruins ahead 56-44 with 6:26 left.

Belmont led 28-22 at halftime. The Bruins shot 47 percent from the floor but committed 10 turnovers. Pittman kept Samford close scoring 10 points in the first half.

The Bruins opened the game on a 12-1 run before Pittman scored Samford's first field goal with 15:32 left to make it 12-3. Belmont built a 21-9 lead on Miller's lay-up with 9:18 left in the first.

Cora Beth Smith and Lindsey Harris each made lay-ups pulling the Bulldogs within 21-15 with 7:09 on the clock. Jenny Conkle hit a 3-pointer and Miller made four straight free throws to give the Bruins the 28-22 advantage.

Samford continues its road trip when the Bulldogs travel to Georgia State Tuesday at 6 p.m. CST.