The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Delaware
Women's Basketball Defeated By Delaware, 69-56
12/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2002
HANOVER, N.H.----- The UAB women's basketball team (3-7) fell to Delaware (4-3), 69-56, in the opening game of the 2002 Blue Sky Restaurant Group/Dartmouth Classic here this evening. The Blue Hens hit 22-of-53 shots (41.5%) and forced the Lady Blazers into a season-high 24 turnovers.
After being down 49-36 at the 12:57 mark of the second half, the Lady Blazers fought back to get with five (55-50) at the 7:00 mark. However, Lia Green fouled Christine Cole, sending her to the line. Cole hit one of her two free-throws and the Blue Hens never looked back.
"It was another hard loss," said UAB head coach Jeannie Milling. "This was the result of poor shooting and turnovers. If a team shoots poorly, but keeps the turnovers down and rebounds well, you can be in the game. However, if you shoot poorly and turn it over 24 times, nine times out of ten, you haven't got a chance."
Delaware outpowered UAB in almost every category. The Blue Hens had 20 points off turnovers compared to six by the Lady Blazers. Delaware tallied a 15-13 second chance points advantage, while its bench had 15 points compared to 7 by UAB's bench. Once again, the Lady Blazers dominated the paint, with a 24-18 advantage.
The Blue Hens also dominated the free-throw line, going to the charity stripe 34 times, compared to 10 times for UAB. Delaware hit 23-of-34 free-throws, for 67.6 percent. UAB did improve its free-throw shooting, hitting 7-of-10 shots.
The Lady Blazers were led by junior Natasha Thomas, who tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year before fouling out with 3:59 left in the contest. Senior Michelle Smith had 16 points and five rebounds, while Chantell Thomas added 10 points and six boards.
Delaware's Allison Trapp led all scorers with 26 points to go along with four rebounds and a season-high six steals. Trapp hit 10-of-20 shots in 35 minutes of play. Tiara Malcolm had 12 for the Blue Hens, hitting 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Cole recorded 11 rebounds, also a season-high.
UAB will play in the consolation game on Monday, December 30, at 5 p.m. against the loser of the Dartmouth/Central Connecticut State game.
