The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
TCU
Women's Basketball Loses To TCU, 74-49
2/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2003
FORT WORTH, Texas ----- The UAB women's basketball team (8-18, 4-9) was defeated by TCU (14-13, 7-6), 74-49, here Friday night. The loss was the Lady Blazers' seventh straight conference defeat.
"Tonight was the same story for us," said UAB head coach Jeannie Milling. "Natasha Thomas and Michelle Smith gave their all in scoring and on the boards, but we didn't give them enough help. Once again, as a team, we had too many turnovers."
UAB had 22 turnovers in the game, 15 coming from TCU steals. The Horned Frogs had a 19-11 points-off-turnovers advantage in the contest. TCU also had 11 fast-break points, compared to none by the Lady Blazers.
Another key factor was shooting, as the Lady Blazers hit 18-of-47 shots from the field (38.3 percent) and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting 2-of-16 three's (12.5 percent). UAB had trouble from the charity stripe, hitting 11-of-24 percent from the free-throw line for 45.8 percent. TCU hit 69.2 percent of its free throws, sinking 18-of-26 attempts.
The duo of Natasha Thomas and Michelle Smith combined for 35 of UAB's 49 points. Thomas scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, recording her 13th double-double of the season and moving her into 12th all-time with 1,261 career points. In addition, she had a career-high three blocks. Smith added 14 points and nine boards, moving her into 17th all-time with 1,034 career points.
Next, the Lady Blazers travel to face Houston on Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. UAB will be looking to clinch a berth in the Conference USA tournament.
