The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Crystal McFadden leads Blazers Over Alabama, 70-62
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Crystal McFadden scored a career-high 31 points to lead the UAB women's basketball team to a 70-62 win over Alabama here at Bartow Arena Tuesday night.
McFadden was 12-of-17 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Additionally, she was perfect from the free-throw line, draining all five of her attempts.
"I'm so very proud of this team and the way they came out tonight," said UAB head coach Audra Smith. "We had a fire in our eyes and we competed. We never quit and came into the game with the confidence that we could play with anyone. We held strong tonight and I'm very proud of this team. We were ready to play. We fell behind early but we settled down and played well. We knew they were going to make a serious run late so we had to take care of the basketball. It was very nice to see this team step up and complete this game."
After being down by as much as seven early in the first half the Blazers regrouped and outscored the Crimson Tide, 32-13, over the rest of the period and took a 40-28 lead into the locker room. UAB shot an impressive 61.5 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of action. Additionally, the Blazers' 40 first half points were the most they have scored in the first half this season.
Alabama came out in the second half and chipped away at UAB's lead. With just over four minutes remaining, the Crimson Tide cut the lead to single digits. Alabama was down 66-60 and had the ball with just under two minutes remaining, but the Blazer defense forced a turnover and held on the rest of the way.
Carmen Guzman contributed 17 points off the bench for UAB and had a team-high five assists and three steals. Freshman Britney Jones added 11 points to the cause, while freshman Brianna Berry had a team-best eight rebounds despite playing only 21 minutes.
UAB scored 20 points off of the Crimson Tide's 21 turnovers. Additionally, the Blazers had a season-high 13 assists and 10 steals in the contest.
Alabama had two players record double-doubles. Navonda Moore had a team-high 22 points to go along with her 10 rebounds, while Dee Merriweather had 10 points and a team-best 12 rebounds.
The Blazers take a break for final exams before hosting the Blazer Invitational Dec. 18-19. Penn State will face Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m., before UAB plays Alabama A&M at 8 p.m. on Dec. 18.
