Sizzling Second Half Carries Davidson to 71-62 Win vs. Samford

Sunday, January 16

Davidson, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

6-9, 2-5SoCon

Samford

12-6, 5-4SoCon

Samford

Davidson

Sophia Aleksandravicius' four blocks in the game gave her 100 for her career, good for 4th all-time in the Wildcats' record book.

Sizzling Second Half Carries Davidson to 71-62 Win vs. Samford

1/16/2011 5:26:01 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson lit up the nets to the tune of 70.8 percent in the second half and four 'Cats scored in double figures to send the Wildcats to a much-needed 71-62 Southern Conference win on Sunday afternoon over Samford at John M. Belk Arena.

Davidson (6-9, 2-5 SoCon) exploded for season-high tying 48 second-half points in snapping its three-game skid and erasing the memories of a buzzer-beating defeat to Chattanooga on Friday night.

Sophia Aleksandravicius (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) and Laura Murray (Harrisburg, Pa.) led the way during the hot-shooting second half, combining for 24 points in the half, and they finished with 21 and 17 points, respectively, for the game. The duo hit 9-of-13 shots in the period and Davidson drained 17-of-24 totals shots overall, including 4-of-5 from behind the line.

The pair also hauled in a game-high eight boards each, while Aleksandravicius had four blocks and Murray dished out five of Davidson's 16 assists.

Also clipping the double-digit mark was Shneeka Center (Smithtown, N.Y.) with 12 points off the bench, nine from behind the arc, and Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.) with 11 points.

Samford (12-6, 5-4 SoCon) put three in double figures with Emily London getting 16 points, 12 of those from three-land. Hannah Dawson had 15 points, hitting all four of her field goals from the three-point line and Savannah Hill added 14 points. Those three Bulldogs combined to can nine of the team's game-high 11 shots from three-point range.

Down 26-12 after Dawson hit a three-pointer with 5:33 remaining in the first half, Davidson started its comeback by finishing out the half on a 11-0 run capped off by a Center three-ball in the closing seconds for a 26-23 halftime score.

The momentum continued for the 'Cats as they opened up the new half scoring eight of the first 11 points, including a Murray shot from three-land, and Samford was forced to burn a timeout with Davidson holding its first lead of the game, 31-28.

Then tied at 33-all with 14:50 on the clock, Davidson caught fire, rattling off a 22-9 run over the next seven minutes to grab a commanding 55-42 lead, with senior Ashley Lax (Little Rock, Ark.) bringing the crowd to its feet on a three-pointer to end the run, and Samford had to call another timeout. Aleksandravicius got the run started with a three-point play and scored the first eight points of the spurt.

Samford would close to within four twice in the last three minutes, but each time Davidson answered and finished out the win going 7-for-10 at the free throw line in the last 1:30 to seal it.

Davidson shot 50 percent (25-50) for the game, the first time its shot 50 percent or better in a game since Nov. 26 vs. North Texas. The Wildcats also held a 38-25 edge on the boards, the 10th time it has out-rebounded the opposition.

Davidson concludes its three-game homestand with a 7 p.m. contest against Appalachian State on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

GAME NOTES: Of the 'Cats five league defeats, three of them have come by a total of four points ... Aleksandravicius' four blocks gave her 100 for her career ... it's also the sophomore's seventh career 20-point game ... Murray has now had four games this year with five assists ... Davidson dominated in the paint, scoring 32 points to Samford's 14 ... the win in the series was the Wildcats second as they trail 3-2 ... Center's three treys matched a season-high ... Barbara Sitton had a season-best seven boards ... Davidson also scored 48 second-half points vs. Radford earlier this season ... it's the third time this year Davidson has put four players in double figures.