BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women’s basketball team suffered a 79-65 loss to Tennessee Tech Tuesday afternoon at the Pete Hanna Center.
With the defeat, Samford dropped to 2-6 on the season, while Tennessee Tech improved to 5-2.
Emily Bowman led Samford with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kennedy Langham recorded a team-high 18 points, and Sadie Stetson added 11 points.
For Tennessee Tech, Peyton Carter paced the Golden Eagles with 20 points. Anna Walker, Reghan Grimes, and Taris Thornton each contributed 14 points.
After Tennessee Tech took an early 3-2 lead, the Golden Eagles went on a 15-0 run to extend the margin to 18-2 with 5:41 remaining in the first quarter, capped by a Grimes layup. Samford responded to narrow the gap to 22-11 with 2:33 left in the quarter after a layup by Sierra Godbolt. Tennessee Tech ended the period ahead, 24-11.
In the second quarter, Samford fought back. Trailing 28-17, the Bulldogs used an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 28-25 with 4:34 remaining after a Langham free throw. Tennessee Tech answered with four straight points to make it 32-25, but Samford responded with another 8-0 run to take a 33-32 lead after another Langham free throw with 30 seconds left. The teams entered halftime tied at 33-33.
Tennessee Tech opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run, taking a 48-35 lead at the 4:37 mark after a three-pointer by Thornton. Samford trimmed the lead to 53-46 following a layup by Claire Johnson with 51 seconds remaining in the quarter, but Tennessee Tech closed the period ahead, 56-48.
In the fourth quarter, Tennessee Tech extended its lead to 66-51 with 7:05 remaining after a Carter three-pointer. Samford managed to reduce the deficit to nine points at 66-57 after a Kylee Lewandowski three-pointer at the 4:44 mark. However, Tennessee Tech pushed its lead back to 16 points at 75-59 with 1:59 to play, following two free throws by Carter, and secured the 79-65 victory.
Samford will next participate in the North Florida MTE in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bulldogs face Stephen F. Austin on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and North Florida on Saturday at 12 p.m.
