Nov. 20, 2001

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior Clarissa Clark scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 64-61 victory in their home opener over Southern Miss Tuesday night at Seibert Hall.

Southern Miss (0-2) sophomore Lana Lewis hit a jumper from the right baseline to give the Golden Eagles a 61-60 lead with 2:11 to play but Samford sophomore Giovanni Price hit an 18 foot jumper on Samford's next possession to return the lead back to the Bulldogs with 1:52 to play. Price sealed the win with a lay up off an assist from freshman Lindsey Harris with 15 seconds to play. Price finished the game with 16 points, 10 in the second half, and a career-high 13 rebounds for the second double-double of her career.

Samford (1-1) junior Noot Pittman recorded her fourth career double-double by posting 10 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. Southern Miss was led by senior Victoria Mason who scored 17 points. Lewis added 14 points and Sonja Brown had 13 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Samford jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the game. The Bulldogs would lead by as much as 14 points, 24-10, at the 8:16 mark of the half. Southern Miss however battled back and ended the half on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 33-27 at halftime.

The Golden Eagles began the second half with defensive pressure and hit a pair of three-pointers to tie the game at 33 at the 19:08 mark. USM took its first of three leads 41-40 but Samford answered every time the Golden Eagles took the lead. Southern Miss never lead by more than one point.

"This was a great win for us," said Samford head coach Janet Cone. "We are a different team went Clarissa (Clark) scores and our free throw shooting down the stretch was definitely a key. I am really proud of the way we kept our composure and made shots down the stretch and then played great defense on the last possession."

The Bulldogs were 12-12 at the free throw line in the second half after going 0-3 in the first half. Southern Miss only went to the free throw line one time in the second half and seven times in the game. Samford held a 42-41 rebounding advantage and shot 8-18 (44 percent) from the three point arc.

Samford will enjoy a break for the Thanksgiving Holiday before returning to action next Tuesday when the Bulldogs host Chattanooga in a 7 p.m. game at Seibert Hall.