Lady Eagles Unable to Hold on to Second Half Lead at Samford
2/1/2011 4:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Georgia Southern Women's Basketball team recovered from a 10-point first half deficit but was unable to hold on to its second half lead falling 62-55 at Samford Monday, January 31st. Samantha Williams (Kingsport, Tenn.) topped her season and career-high total with 17 points and pulled down seven boards to lead the Lady Eagles in both categories.
Georgia Southern held the Bulldogs well below their 45.5 field goal percentage. Samford was held to 36.0% shooting, but missed only one free throw all night and went 20 for 21 from the line. The nation's leading free-throw shooter, Emily London went 9-9 from the line and scored a game-high 22 points.
Meredyth Frye (Fredericksburg, Va.) was the only Lady Eagle to take more than one free throw and drained six of her seven attempts. Frye scored 13 points in 26 minutes, while Jordi Cook (Tunnel Hill, Ga.), Jamie Navarro (Naples, Fla.) and Aishya Wofford (Augusta, Ga.) added six points each.
Georgia Southern won the tip and Logan Youngblood (Sylvester, Ga.) drained a jumper on the first attempt to give the Lady Eagles an early lead. GSU led by as many as three points in the early going, but the game was quickly tied at 5-5 at the first media timeout. Samford exploded out of the timeout and took a 13-5 lead with 12:21 to play. The Bulldogs led by as many as 10 points, but Georgia Southern fought hard to pull within six at the break.
Samford held a 24-18 lead at halftime behind eight points from London. London, who was held to two points in the first meeting earlier this season, drained three field goals including a trey. Williams drained back-to-back jumpers to pull Georgia Southern back within 10 points with 3:29 remaining. The junior guard got hot, scoring six points in the first half, more points than she had in the last five games combined.
Williams also pulled down six boards for Georgia Southern. Wofford added five rebounds, while Danielle Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) grabbed four rebounds for the Lady Eagles. However, Samford outrebounded the Lady Eagles 23-15 after grabbing four offensive boards on one possession early in the first half. Hannah Dawson led the Bulldogs with six rebounds and tallied four offensive boards.
Georgia Southern opened the second half with renewed defensive pressure and forced two quick turnovers. Williams drained a jumper to pull the Lady Eagles within four, 24-20. GSU fought off an attempt by Samford to extend their lead and tied the contest at 32-32 on a three-point play by Frye. The Bulldogs retook the lead on a quick jumper by Jazmine Powers, but Cook responded for Georgia Southern with a long three from the elbow with 12:21 remaining in the game. Cook's second trey of the contest gave the Lady Eagles their first lead, 35-34, since early in the first half.
The two squads battled for the next eight minutes, exchanging the lead or tying the contest on every possession, before Samford pulled ahead 51-46 after forcing back-to-back turnovers. Georgia Southern did not allow the Bulldogs to pull ahead by more than six points and cut the lead to four points on a three by Williams with two minutes remaining in the game.
Georgia Southern returns home from Birmingham, Ala., for a pair of home games on Febuary 5th and 7th. The Lady Eagles will play host to UNC Greensboro on Saturday at 5 p.m. for the sixth annual "Pack the House in Pink" game. "Pack the House in Pink" is a tribute to all individuals who have lost the battle with breast cancer, those who are currently battling breast cancer, and those who have conquered breast cancer. Activities surrounding the event will focus on raising awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer and life-saving research. GSU will finish the two-game homestand Monday against Elon at 7 p.m.
Fans may follow Georgia Southern Women's Basketball by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/ladyeagles or check in at twitter.com/GSAthletics or facebook.com/GSAthletics for short updates.
