The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
Second-Half Offensive Onslaught Propels Blazers Past UCF, 90-78
1/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB women's basketball team had six different players, including five non-starters, record double-digits en route to a 90-78 victory over UCF in Bartow Arena Sunday afternoon. The 90 points were the most recorded by the Blazers since a 95-73 victory over Florida Atlantic on Dec. 19, 2003.
The Blazers tallied 57 second-half points, the most in school history since a 60-point performance in the final 20 minutes in a 94-41 victory over South Alabama on Dec. 30, 1993. The UAB bench accounted for 47 second-half points, compared to 14 by UCF's subs.
Freshman Britney Jones and sophomore Christon Ingram led the way with 16 points a piece off the bench. Ingram's 16 points were a career-best for the forward. Ingram, who had 11 of her 16 in the final seven minutes of the game, went 6-of-9 from the field, grabbed six rebounds and recorded a steal.
UAB, who improved to 11-8 overall and 4-4 in conference action, got 65 points from its bench. In addition to Jones and Ingram's 16, junior Crystal McFadden had 12, sophomore Diamond Rogers added 11 and senior Deirdre Larry contributed 10. On the flip side, UCF's subs accounted for a mere 28 of their teams' 78 points.
"Today was another solid team effort," said UAB head coach Audra Smith. "We had people be consistent again, much like Friday. Deirdre Larry, Christon Ingram and Diamond Rogers came in to give us solid minutes and put up some points. They all did a great job of stepping up and if everyone continues to be contributors we are going to be a tough team. It's incredible to have six players score in double figures."
After UCF (5-15-, 3-6) tied the score at 64 each with 6:52 remaining in the contest, the Blazers went on an 11-0 run to take charge of the contest. UAB was 9-of-12 from the field and hit 9-of-11 from the charity stripe during the final seven minutes of play.
"We were very poised and confident down the stretch," said Smith. "Teams aren't going to back down and UCF is a very athletic team. They had a lot of good players and played tough. We had to be ready for that and I can't say enough about Christon. She was focused and was a difference for us in the paint."
The Blazers led early, starting the game with an 11-4 run, but UCF came back and took had a 34-33 lead to the half. The Golden Knights hit an impressive 53.8 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, with Shelby Weber leading the way with 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
UAB never let the lead get out of reach and rallied to regain the lead. The Blazers were 18-of-32 in the final 20 minutes, hitting four three's and 17-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe. Additionally, the Blazers shut down the paint for UCF, allowing only 12 Golden Knight points in the second half, while collecting 24 of their own in the paint in the same period.
Senior guard Larezia Williams got her second-straight start for UAB and scored a career-high five points in the contest. Williams, who walked onto the team last season, was put on scholarship for her final year of eligibility with the Blazers.
Next, UAB hosts Memphis Thursday at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
