The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Troy
Women's Basketball Team Loses Heartbreaker, 55-54
12/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.----- A three-point shot by Troy State's Shay Stewart with 3.1 second left in the game gave the Lady Trojans (4-4) a 55-54 win over the UAB Lady Blazers (2-6) in the first game of the 2002 Lady Blazer Invitational.
"It's a tough loss," said head coach Jeannie Milling. "We're having the same problems we've been having since the beginning of the season. Our guards shot 4-of-24 and when that happens, we tend to struggle. Our post play and ability to get to the free-throw line got us back into the game. We've got to find a way to score from the outside."
The Lady Blazers were down 29-17 at half after shooting 12.5 (4-of-32) percent from the floor. In the second half, UAB came out and widdled down the deficit to take a 52-51 lead with 3:42 left in the game. UAB improved its lead to two, 54-52, on a Natasha Thomas lay-up with 2:49 to go. With 13 seconds left, TSU's Kerri Fiehrer stole the ball before Stewart sank the three.
Natasha Thomas led all scorers with 23 points to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds, her third double-double of the year. Michelle Smith added 11 points and nine rebounds to the cause. Dannielle Jackson had six points and a career-high seven rebounds in her first start for UAB.
Chaquita Alexander led the Lady Trojans with 16 points. Thea Herring was the leading rebounder for Troy State with nine boards in the contest.
The Lady Blazers will play in the consolation game of the tournament on Saturday, December 21, at 3 p.m. UAB will face the loser of tonight's contest between Eastern Kentucky and Grambling State.
