The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts UTEP In C-USA Matchup Saturday
1/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2009
UAB vs. UTEP Game Notes | Gametracker | Watch
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's basketball team will play its second game in three days on Saturday when it hosts the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.
Saturday will be the fifth meeting between UAB and UTEP, with the all-time series tied at 2-2. Each team has protected its home court, with each squad picking up both of its wins on its home floor. The Miners won the last meeting, 67-64, a season ago in El Paso, Texas.
UAB enters the game with an 8-13 overall record and a 3-5 mark in C-USA. The Blazers are coming off a 61-59 victory over Tulane this past Thursday.
Senior guard Britney Jones leads UAB with 17.6 ppg, which also puts her first in the league in scoring and 41st in the nation. Jones' 20.6 ppg against conference opponents is also first in the league rankings.
Sophomore guard Amanda Peterson and junior guard Fatiha Salaam join Jones in averaging double figures this season. Peterson has sunk 49 treys on the year, which leads both the Blazers and the conference, and ranks 60th in the country in three-point field goals per game at 2.3.
Salaam is adding 11.0 ppg to UAB's efforts, along with 2.9 rpg and 1.0 apg. Junior forward Tamika Dukes paces the Blazers on the boards with 7.3 rpg to accompany her 8.5 ppg on the year.
UTEP holds a 12-8 overall mark and a 5-2 record in conference play entering Saturday's game against the Blazers. The Miners most-recently grabbed a 73-53 victory over Memphis this past Thursday.
The Miners are led by 2008 C-USA Player of the Year and reigning C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Jareica Hughes. Hughes is scoring 11.5 ppg overall and 14.0 ppg in league games, while also chipping in 3.8 rpg and a team-best 4.1 apg.
Forward Timika Williams is adding 10.2 ppg and grabbing a team-best 6.8 rpg for UTEP. Guards Briana Green and Dietra Caldwell round out the Miners' double-digit scoring with 10.1 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively.
Fans can follow the game live on Gametracker and All-Access by logging on to www.uabsports.com.
