Nov. 30, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford Bulldogs women's basketball team will open up Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend. The Bulldogs will be in Boca Raton on Saturday to face Florida Atlantic at 2 p.m. CT. Samford will travel to Orlando on Monday for a 6 p.m. CT date with UCF.

Samford (1-2) suffered its worst home loss in the program's history falling to Chattanooga 105-42 on Tuesday. The 105 points were the most the Bulldogs have ever given up as Chattanooga became only the second team to score 100 points against the Bulldogs. Giovanni Price was the only Bulldog in double-figures as she scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. She has been in double-figures in all three games this year.

Florida Atlantic (0-3) opens a seven-game home stand after dropping all three games and finishing eighth at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Hawai'i. FAU fell to Penn State (89-66), Weber State (85-63), and Wyoming (75-71). Tamica Pierce has led the Lady Owls average 20 points per game. She scored 27 in the game against Weber State. Chantale Jones is averaging 13.3 points per game. She scored a season-high 15 points against Wyoming. Crystal Boyland leads the team in rebounds with 7.3 per game.

UCF (3-2) is coming off an impressive showing at the San Juan Shootout where they defeated Kansas in the consolation game 71-59. Marvelous Washington was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week for her performance in San Juan. She scored 15 points against the Jayhawks and has been in double-figures in four of UCF's five games. She leads the Golden Knights averaging 12.8 points per contest. Erin Paige lead the team in rebounding at 8.4 per game. UCF is 1-1 at the UCF Arena so far this season.

Samford is 3-2 all-time against FAU. The two teams split last years meeting with each team winning on its home floor. The teams also split the season-series in 1999-2000. Samford has a 2-1 record in Boca with the last victory coming 65-58 on Feb. 5, 2000.

The Golden Knights hold a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series after sweeping the Bulldogs last season. UCF won 66-51 in Birmingham and 64-54 in Orlando. Samford's last win in the series was Feb. 3, 2000 in Orlando.

Samford is 6-3 over the last two seasons when it scores at least 60 points in a game. The Bulldogs are 1-20 when they fail to score 60 points. The Bulldogs are averaging 50 points per game over their first three games and scored 64 points in their only win of the season against Southern Miss. The Bulldogs are 1-3 in conference openers in their first four years.

This weekends games will not be broadcast on radio but you will be able to get score updates and important stats on samfordsports.com.

To view gamenotes, go to the women's basketball page and click on Game Notes.