Jan. 8, 2003

Samford begins Atlantic Sun Conference play Thursday when the Bulldogs host in-state rival Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. in Seibert Hall. The Bulldogs (4-7) look to win their third straight against the Lady Gamecocks. Samford will be facing the A-Sun's No. 1 scoring offense in Jacksonville State, which is averaging 80.8 points per game.

First-year head coach Mike Morris' Princeton-style offense has given opponents fits this season. The Bulldogs are the fifth best defense in the A-Sun allowing only 63.4 points per game while scoring 55.2 points per game on offense. Samford has allowed an opponent to score more than 68 points only once this season.

Senior forward Noot Pittman has scored in double figures the last four games and is coming off her first double-double of the season. Pittman scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 70-58 win over Martin Methodist last Saturday. LaBrena Friend scored a career-high 17 points to lead three Samford players in double figures as Samford pulled away to defeat Martin Methodist. Lindsey Harris added 15 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range

The Lady Gamecocks (5-5) enter the Atlantic Sun Conference opener with the A-Sun's leading scorer, sophomore forward Shanika Freeman, who is averaging 21.0 points per game. JSU defeated Savannah State, 102-45 last Friday to earn its fifth win of the season. Freeman scored 18 points in the win to lead four JSU players in double figures. It was the second time this season the Lady Gamecocks had broken the 100-point mark.

Samford and Jacksonville State meet for the 13th time with JSU leading the series 7-5. The Lady Gamecocks swept last season's series winning, 77-65, in Birmingham and 69-52 in Jacksonville. Both teams will be playing their last season in the A-Sun in 2002. Both Samford and JSU begin play in the Ohio Valley Conference next season.

Samford continues conference play when Georgia State comes to Seibert Hall Saturday for the third game in a four-game home-stand for the Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Samford will hold Girls Incorporated Appreciation Day sponsored by Morgan Stanley and The Powell Group.