GREENVILLE, S.C. – Francie Morrris scored a career high 26 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to power a Samford comeback that propelled the Bulldogs past Furman, 68-59, in Southern Conference women's basketball action on Thursday evening at Timmons Arena.
 
The win was the fourth straight for Samford (12-16, 5-6 SoCon) and earned the Bulldogs the season split with Furman (16-11, 8-4 SoCon), which dropped its third consecutive home game.
 
Alyssa Ervin's 3-pointer with 5:37 remaining in the game put Furman ahead 53-47, but it was all Samford after that as the Bulldogs needed less than two minutes of clock to fashion a 9-0 run and take the for good, 55-53, on Morris' 3-pointer from the corner at the 3:56 mark. 
 
Samford outscored Furman 22-6 over final five minutes of play and shot 64.3 percent from the field (9x14) in the decisive fourth quarter.
 
Briana Rivera tallied 15 points, and Sierra Godbolt chipped in 13 for Samford, which finished the game shooting 42.0 percent (21x50).  The Bulldogs also converted 20-of-24 free throw attempts that converted to a 10-point advantage at the stripe with Furman hitting just 10-of-17 chances.
 
Clare Coyle paced Furman with 21 points, and freshman Sophia Pearl, making her first start following a season ending injury to Lauren Bailey, tallied a season high 14 points and six rebounds.
 
The Paladins forged a 35-27 rebounding advantage but suffered 23 turnovers, which Samford converted to 20 points.
 
Furman plays host to Mercer on Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. contest.