Published on March 9, 2026 by Samford Athletics  
Samford Celebrates SoCon Title

The Samford women's basketball team rallied from an early double-digit deficit to defeat top-seeded UT-Chattanooga 72-67, capturing the Southern Conference Tournament championship in Asheville, North Carolina. The Bulldogs (16-18) secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament by posting three wins over the SoCon's top three seeds.

Freshman Kaylee Yarbrough delivered a career performance on the biggest stage, scoring 25 points off the bench and matching her season high with five made three-pointers. Francie Morris added 22 points and six rebounds in a career-high 35 minutes, while Sierra Godbolt chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and three assists across a season-high 40 minutes. The Bulldogs shot 58.8 percent from beyond the arc (10-for-17) and scored 27 points off the bench.

"It is an undescribable feeling—all the confetti falling down and the stands cheering," Yarbrough said.

This victory marks Samford's first Southern Conference title under head coach Matt Wise, who wins the championship in his debut season. The Bulldogs upset the preseason favorites, outscoring Chattanooga in the paint and showcasing remarkable poise in a tight fourth quarter.

Samford has won eight out of 10 games entering the NCAAs.

"For a young group to build on their belief, to build on their buy-in, to build on the little things thart it takes to win, eventually it caught momentum," Wise said. "That's how you win eight out of 10, and that's how you go on a special run in the conference tournament. "

UTC raced out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, but Samford found its footing behind a barrage of three-pointers, closing the opening period trailing by just three. The Bulldogs tightened up defensively in the second quarter, holding Chattanooga to seven points while moving in front 35-27 at halftime. In the third quarter, Samford's offense exploded for 19 points, building a 13-point advantage—their largest of the day. Chattanooga mounted a late charge, but Samford sank 12-of-13 free throws, including two crucial makes from Briana Rivera in the final seconds, to hold off the Mocs and seal the win.

Samford will await its NCAA Tournament destination, with March Madness seeding and matchup details to be announced Sunday, March 15.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.