College of Charleston Cougars Volleyball Falls at Samford Bulldogs

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  The College of Charleston women’s basketball team got down by as many as 13 in the first half, fought back to within one early in the second half, but eventually fell 56-47 to Samford at the Pete Hanna Center Saturday.

Senior Cathryn Hardy led the Cougars (7-7, 3-2) with 13 points and junior Afreyea Tolbert added 12 off the bench. Junior Jillian Brown had four steals for the Cougars.

Samford (7-7, 4-1) scored the first 13 points of the game and held the Cougars scoreless until Hardy knocked out a three-pointer at the 14:36 mark of the opening period.

With the Cougars still down nine late in the first half junior Alyssa Frye banked in a three-pointer and Tolbert scored on a layup to bring the Cougars to within four at 24-20 at halftime.

After giving up a basket on their first defensive possession of the second half the Cougars went on another 5-0 run capped off by senior Latisha Harris driving to the hoop and making a short jumper and being fouled. Harris converted the free-throw to bring the Cougars to within one at 26-25 with 18:46 left in the game.

Over the next five minutes Samford went on a 14-3 run as they caught fire from beyond the three-point arc, led by Taylor Reece, who went 5-of-6 from three-point range. Reece led the Bulldogs with 19 total points.

Once again the Cougars received excellent production from their bench players as they had 20 bench points. Sophomore Mikaela Hopkins had a season-high six points on 3-of-4 shooting.

Up next the Cougars take on the Chattanooga Mocs Monday Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m.