The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
UAB Fall Short at Houston 71-67
1/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2001
HOUSTON, Texas - Jessica Shanklin scored seven of her 15 points in the final minute as Conference USA National Division leader Houston (14-6, 7-1) defeated UAB (12-7, 4-4) 71-67 in Houston's Hofheinz Pavilion Sunday afternoon.
UAB's Deanna Jackson scored 33 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Lady Blazers. She scored 19 of her points in the second half as the UAB overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to take as much as four-point lead in the second half.
Shanklin provided the key shot with Houston leading by one, she hit a long-range three-pointer as the shot-clock ran out. That put Houston up 66-62 with one minute remaining. Shanklin then went 4-of-4 from the line in the final 40 seconds.
Houston led by as much as 14 in the first half after taking an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Chandi Jones, the second leading scorer in C-USA, behind Jackson, scored 11 in the first half. However, with eight seconds remaining in the half she went down with a knee injury and did not return.
UAB's deficit was partly caused by its free throw shooting. UAB was 1-for-10 from the line in the second half. Neither team had much success at the line. UAB finished the game 6-for-16 (5-of-6 in the second half). Houston was 18-of-29, making its last six.
The Lady Blazers steadily cut into the Cougars 41-31 halftime lead. UAB took the lead at 52-51 with 10:41 remaining in the game on Sally Jeter's only basket of the game. UAB took a four-point lead at 60-56 with 6:02 left in the game. The Lady Blazers did not score for the next 3:50 as Houston took a 63-60 lead with 3:29 left.
Mia Thrash scored 14 points for the Lady Blazers and Natasha Thomas added 12. Cathy Lida matched Shanklin with 14 points for the game.
UAB plays at Cincinnati, Friday night at 6:30 CST.
