The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Women's Basketball Drops 64-53 Road Game To Marshall
1/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2009
Final Stats
|
Final Stats
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Marshall had three players score in double figures, led by forward Tynikki Crook with 16, as it topped the UAB women's basketball team, 64-53, Thursday evening at the Cam Henderson Center. UAB's Britney Jones tallied her fourth consecutive 20-plus point game with 23 points for the Blazers.
UAB moved to 7-12 overall on the year, including a 2-4 record in Conference USA. Marshall improved its overall record to 11-7 and its league record to 4-1.
The opening half was a close contest that included six lead changes. With the game tied at 12-12, UAB took its largest lead of five, 17-12, at the 8:12 mark after a trey by junior guard Fatiha Salaam and a layup by Jones.
Marshall regained the lead with a 10-0 run that put the Thundering Herd up by five, 22-17, at 2:41 in the first half. After trading baskets, Marshall took a five-point lead into the break, 24-19.
UAB came out and tied the score at 26-all with 18:04 left in the game. Marshall went on a 6-0 run to go up, 32-26, at the 14:47 mark. The Blazers scored the next five points, led by a jumper by Jones and a three-point basket by junior forward Amanda Scott, to cut Marshall's lead to one, 32-31, at 13:52.
The two teams played within a one possession game either way until the Thundering Herd went up by six, 45-39, with 7:32 left on the clock. Marshall took its first double-digit lead, 52-42, with 5:13 remaining. The Thundering Herd held on to their double figure lead for the majority of the rest of the game, eventually earning the 11-point win over the Blazers, 62-51.
"We have to start being more consistent," said UAB head coach Audra Smith. "There is so much parity in this league that you have to come out ready to play every single game. We can't afford to come out flat or not ready against any team in this conference.
"Our biggest problem tonight was that we would go on runs and get a lead, then we would give it right back. You can't work so hard to get a lead then let is slip away like that. We need to be more consistent on the defensive end and hold onto leads better."
UAB struggled in the first half, hitting just 27.6 percent of its shots, but improved to 48.4 percent shooting in the second half for a 38.3 percent shooting percentage overall. The Blazers hit 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc and went just 2-of-6 (33.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
Jones' 23 points came on 10-of-22 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. It marked the eighth consecutive game scoring in double figures for Jones, including four straight with 20-plus points.
Salaam was second on the squad with nine points for the Blazers. Sophomore guard Amanda Peterson added six points and a team-best eight rebounds for UAB.
Marshall shot 45.3 percent for the game, including a game-high 55.6 percent in the second half. The Thundering Herd nailed 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from three-point range and 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the free throw line.
Crook led Marshall with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe, while also adding nine rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal on the night.
Forward Alyssa Hammond tallied 11 points and four boards for the Thundering Herd and Keona Brooks contributed 10 points and three rebounds.
UAB will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Greenville, N.C. to take on the East Carolina Pirates. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at Williams Arena.
