TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Samford Bulldogs used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and cruised to a 77-57 victory over the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center.

Samford improved its record to 2-2 overall, while Florida A&M remained winless at 0-4.

The Bulldogs seized control of the game from the opening tip, erupting for 25 points in the first quarter while holding the Lady Rattlers to just 10. The early burst gave Samford a comfortable 15-point lead that it would not relinquish. The offense was fueled by efficient shooting, as Samford connected on 10 of 27 attempts from three-point range, a stark contrast to Florida A&M, which managed just one three-pointer on 12 attempts.

Samford’s offensive execution was reflected in its advanced metrics, posting an offensive rating of 110.8 by scoring 77 points on 70 possessions. Florida A&M struggled to find its offensive rhythm, scoring 57 points on 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 79.2.

The Bulldogs had a balanced scoring attack with four players reaching double figures. Kaylee Yarbrough led the way with 15 points off the bench, while Briana Rivera also added 15. Carla Baguda contributed 10 points and five rebounds, and Frances Morris filled the stat sheet with nine points, two assists and two blocks.

Florida A&M was led by Breazia Robinson, who nearly recorded a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Cornelia Ellington was a focal point of the Lady Rattlers’ offense, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Miya Giles-Jones and Shaniyah McCarthy each chipped in with 11 and 12 points, respectively.

Despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass 13 to 6, Samford’s superior shooting from the field and the free-throw line proved decisive. The Bulldogs shot 47.3% from the floor and 75% from the charity stripe, while the Lady Rattlers shot 34.9% from the field and a costly 52.2% on free throws.

After taking a 36-20 lead into halftime, Samford put the game further out of reach with a 26-point third quarter. Florida A&M showed more life after the main break, scoring 19 points in the third and 18 in the fourth, but could never mount a serious threat to close the substantial deficit.

The game was witnessed by an announced attendance of 654.

Samford will look to build on the win when it travels to face Alabama on Wednesday. Florida A&M continues its search for its first victory of the season on the road at UCF next Friday.