Big First Half Pushes Samford to 62-51 Win Over W. Basketball in SoCon Semis

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Shelby Campbell scored a career-high 24 points, including 15 in the first half, as Samford built an insurmountable 20-point halftime cushion on its way to a 62-51 women's basketball victory in the semifinal round of the Southern Conference Tournament Sunday afternoon in U.S. Cellular Center.

Samford advances to the championship game to face the winner of Chattanooga-Appalachian State Monday evening. Davidson will represent the SoCon with a bid into the Women's NIT, which will be determined on late Monday, March 12 after the NCAA selections. It will be the 'Cats second-ever postseason bid, after the 2006-07 team earned a spot in the WNIT.

Laura Murray led Davidson (22-9) with 18 points, and Sophia Aleksandravicius collected 13 points and nine rebounds. Amanda Ottaway posted seven points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Campbell went 8-for-10 from the field for Samford (19-12) and drained three of her four 3-point tries. Ruth Ketcham posted 11 points and seven rebounds, while Paige Anderson added eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Wildcats made a valiant effort in the second half but could not climb out of the 20-point hole, their largest halftime deficit this season. The quickest way back, the 3-point line, was unkind to the 'Cats as they made just 2-of-21 attempts in the contest.

The Wildcats started the half with a 15-2 run to climb back into the game. Aleksandravicius netted seven points during the stretch, and capped it with a conventional 3-point play that made the score 38-31 with 12:08 left in the game. Ottaway added five points during the run.

Campbell netted eight points, including two big 3-pointers as Samford used an 11-3 run to stretch the lead back up to 15. Campbell's triple from the top of the key with two 'Cats on her made the score 49-34 with 7:50 remaining.

Davidson made another run as Murray hit a 3-pointer, and Ottaway made a layup to bring the margin to 10 points. The 'Cats had four possessions to cut the deficit further but could not convert as 2:05 ticked off the clock.

Murray hit two free throws to make the score 49-41 with 3:39 to go, but Davidson could get no closer. Samford went 13-for-18 from the charity stripe in the last 3:39 to seal the win.

The Wildcats suffered through a 6:14 scoring drought in the first half, while the Bulldogs used a 19-4 run to open a commanding 26-12 cushion. Murray ended the drought with a triple from the top of the key with 2:46 remaining, but Samford responded by closing the half on a 10-1 run and went into the locker room with a 36-16 lead.

Davidson could not solve the Bulldogs' defense and went 5-for-23 from the floor in the half. Samford also forced nine Wildcat turnovers, which the Bulldogs converted into nine points. Offensively, Samford shot 48 percent from the field and hit four 3-pointers. Campbell came off the bench to score 15 points in the stanza, and the Samford bench outscored Davidson's 33-6 for the game.

Game Notes: The Wildcats fall to 1-7 in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament… Murray reached double figures in the scoring column for the 45th time in her career and the 26th time this season… Davidson sits just one victory away from tying the school record for wins in a season, set by the 2006-07 squad.

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