The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Rice
Sharp Shooting Lifts Blazers Past Rice, 76-64
2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2008
UAB vs. Rice box score 
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Final Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's basketball team shot 64.3 percent in the first half and 50.9 percent overall on its way to a 76-64 win over Rice on Friday evening at Bartow Arena. Sophomore forward/center Amanda Scott hit 5-of-6 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line on her way to a career-high 18 points.
UAB improves to 10-10 overall and maintains its second-place spot in Conference USA at 6-1. Rice falls to 8-13 on the year and 1-6 in league play.
After Rice took a quick four-point lead in the opening minutes of the game, UAB responded by going up by double figures with 4:04 remaining in the first half, 32-22. The Blazers outscored the Owls 9-5 in the final four minutes of the half to take a 41-27 lead into the break.
UAB went up by as much as 22 points multiple times in the second half before Rice made a late run and cut the Blazers' lead to single digits with 46 seconds left, 73-64. That would be as close as the Owls would come with UAB sophomore Fatiha Salaam making a pair of free throw down the stretch to give the Blazers the 12-point victory, 76-64.
"I'm very happy with the way that we played tonight," said UAB head coach Audra Smith. "We came out a little slow, but we got our intensity level up and finally started playing how I know we can.
"We shot the ball well tonight, especially in the first half. We struggled from the free throw line, but overall, we got the ball to fall for us.
"Every game is important at this point in the season. We are trying to put ourselves in the best position to win the conference, and to do that, you have to protect your home court and get victories at home."
UAB's 50.9 percent shooting for the game was the best by the Blazers this season. UAB went 37.5 percent from three-point range, but sunk just 64.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Scott's 18 points led UAB, while also adding one rebound, one assist and one steal. Senior guard/forward Diamond Rogers tallied 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting and paced the Blazers on the boards with seven rebounds. Senior guard Crystal McFadden was the third Blazer in double figures, hitting 6-of-10 from the field for 13 points.
Rice made 42.9 percent of its shots overall, including 50.0 percent from beyond the arc and 72.2 percent from the free throw line.
Kadie Riverin was 6-of-8 from the field and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe for a game-high 20 points for the Owls. Morgan Mayse had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blazers will return to action on Sunday when they host the Houston Cougars. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
