Dec. 2, 2000

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Wendi Wilcox scored a career-high 21 points to lead four Bulldogs in double-figures as Samford defeated Florida Atlantic 83-62 in Trans America Athletic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon.

Samford improves to 2-4 on the season and evens it TAAC record at 1-1 while Florida Atlantic drops to 2-4 on the year and 0-2 in conference play.

Wilcox went 8-11 from the floor, 5-6 from the free throw line and grabbed eight rebounds to eclipse her previous high of 19 points she scored against Columbus State on Dec. 3, 1998. Aimee Cochran added 17 points, Jennifer Lutrell chipped in a season-high 13 points and Giovanni Price added 11 points as Samford produced its highest offensive output of the season. The Bulldogs shot 45 percent from the floor for the game and held Florida Atlantic to just 32 percent shooting.

The Bulldogs opened the game on a 10-4 run and were never really threatened. Samford took a 15-point lead at 30-15 with 5:40 remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs outscored the Owls 18-6 in the paint in the first half and took a 34-24 lead into halftime. The 34 first half points were a season-high for the Bulldogs. Samford scored 49 points in the second half which was the most it had scored in any half this season.

In the second half, Florida Atlantic got to within seven points at 38-31 with 16:44 to play. Samford then went on a 10-3 run to bump the lead back to 14 with 13:18 remaining. Samford would gain its largest lead of 21 points with 8:33 to play. The Owls would not be able to get any closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Florida Atlantic was led by 13 points from Ruta Griniute and 14 rebounds by Kristy Halvorsen. The Owls out rebounded the Bulldogs 52-39 but FAU committed 32 turnovers which led to 25 Samford points. Samford held a 25-10 advantage in points off turnovers in the game.

The Bulldogs will step out of conference on Monday as they head to Chattanooga, Tenn., for a 6 p.m. game with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.