Murray, Defense Propel Davidson into Semifinals, 55-42

Saturday, March 8

Asheville, N.C.

6:45 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

10-20,8-10SoCon

No. 6 Samford (Kimmel Arena)

15-15,11-7SoCon

Team	1	2	F
Samford	19	23	42
Davidson	24	31	55

Photo by: SoConPhotos.com

Murray, Defense Propel Davidson into Semifinals, 55-42

3/8/2014 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

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Postgame Interview
Game Highlights

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Senior shooting guard Laura Murray went off for a season-high tying 26 points and Davidson's defense held Samford to 24.6 percent shooting in rolling to a 55-42 quarterfinal win at the Southern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Saturday night in Kimmel Arena.

The Wildcats (15-15), move onto the semifinals for the third straight year where they will face seventh-seeded Western Carolina, who upset No. 2 Furman, Sunday at the U.S. Cellular Center. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., with it being broadcast on ESPN3 and CSS. The game can also be heard on Davidsonwildcats.com teamline with Derek Smith and Leslie Urban doing the calling.

Murray tied her career-high by hitting 10 field goals in 18 tries and went 4-for-6 from downtown to set a new Wildcat career record with 215. The senior also pulled in eight rebounds and pocketed three of Davidson's seven steals for the game.

The senior helped put the Bulldogs away when she scored seven of Davidson's first 10 second-half points to push its lead out to 10 (34-24) and then shortly thereafter, capped a 15-4 Wildcat run with back-to-back triples to make it 49-31 with 4:48 remaining.

Dakota Dukes added 14 points and Rachel Piles came off the bench for 10 rebounds.

Samford (10-20) was led by Kassidy Blevins' 13 points, while Ellen Riggins chipped in eight points.

Davidson's defense forced the Bulldogs into a 14-for-57 shooting performance, including just 5-for-22 from behind the arc. It forced 14 turnovers, getting 15 points on the miscues. Twice during the game Samford was held without a field goal over six minute stretches.

The Wildcats shock off a cold shooting first half to hit 41.7 percent in the second half to finish at 35.1 percent.

Neither team had a first half to remember, but Davidson did just enough to grab a 24-19 lead thanks to Murray. Despite the Wildcats shooting just 30.3 percent in the half, the senior hit 5-of-10 shots for 13 points, with her last two coming on a jumper in the lane with eight ticks left to give the 'Cats the five-point halftime advantage.

GAME NOTES: Davidson won its fifth straight in the all-time series and avenge a defeat to Samford two years ago when the 'Cats were the No. 1 seed and got upset in the semifinals by the Bulldogs … The Wildcats improved to 15-20 all-time in the SoCon Tourney, going 10-8 in quarterfinal games … Murray has scored in double digits in 29 of the 'Cats' 30 games this year, pushing her career total to 96 … 15 of those double-digit games have been 20-point outings this year, giving her 32 for her career … Murray's 10 field goals tied a single-game Wildcat SoCon record, matching Meagan Gleason (2000) and Katy Kamp (1999) ... Davidson is two wins away from reaching 400 in program history, which dates back to 1973-74.