The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Women's Basketball Tops East Carolina 66-45
2/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2002
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Behind double-double performances from Natasha Thomas and Michelle Smith, UAB (11-14, 3-9 Conference USA) topped East Carolina 66-45 in Conference USA women's basketball action at Williams Arena.
Thomas recorded her C-USA leading 18th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Blazers. Thomas was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line and shot 46.2 percent (6-13) from the field, while dishing out a team high four assists. Smith's double-double marked her sixth of the season as she scored a game high 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds for UAB. Smith shot 66.7 percent (6-9) from the field and was 8-9 (88.9%) from the free throw line. Shaquetta Rhodes added 13 points for the Lady Blazers. Rhodes sot 71.4 percent from the floor (5-7) and was 3-3 from the charity stripe.
UAB shot 44.9 percent (22-29) from the floor for the game and held East Carolina to 25 percent (14-56) shooting from the field. The Lady Blazers also won the battle of the boards, outrebounding East Carolina 45-29.
Kim Enoch led East Carolina with 16 points, four assists and an 8-8 performance from the free throw line.
East Carolina went on a 9-0 run and cut the Lady Blazer lead to three at 40-37 with 12:28 remaining to play in the game.
UAB answered with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to 10 at 47-37 with at the 10:54 mark.
East Carolina would get no closer than an eight-point deficit for the remainder of the game.
UAB out shot the Pirates 40 percent to 23.1 percent from the field in the first half.
Both teams were solid from the free throw line in the first frame with East Carolina shooting 90.9 percent and UAB shooting 84.6 percent.
Tali Robich and Enoch were both 4-4 and Renee Cosby was 2-2 from the free throw line for the Pirates. Smith was 5-6 and Thomas, Rhodes and Allison Graham were all 2-2 from the charity stripe for UAB.
UAB led the entire first half and held a 31-22 advantage at the break.
UAB returns home to Bartow Arena Friday to face C-USA rival Memphis at 7 p.m.
