The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Virginia Tech
UAB Drops Heartbreaker to Virginia Tech in OT
12/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The UAB women's basketball team dropped a nailbiter to the Virginia Tech Hokies , falling, 68-66, in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena in the St. John's-Chartwells Holiday Classic. Junior guard Amanda Peterson scored 21 points, including six three-pointers, while freshman guard Jala Harris added 17 points, four assists and three steals as the Blazers fell to 4-6.
"I'm proud of the poise and confidence of our young team in such a tight game," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "They kept their composure when it could've slipped away, and we responded to big plays with big plays of our own. Our team kept fighting, and even though we couldn't pull out the win, it's a game we can learn from and grow stronger."
In addition to Peterson and Harris, senior forward Tamika Dukes reached double digits for the fifth game in a row, chipping in 11.
Hokie guard Alyssa Fenyn led the way for Virginia Tech with 15 points, while center Brittany Gordon posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
UAB once again edged its opponent in the turnover category, as the Blazers gave up the ball 12 times compared to Virginia Tech's 19. The Blazers also drained nine treys, five more than the Hokies (7-3).
It was one of Peterson's three-pointers that sparked the Blazers' second-half run. Trailing by five at the break, UAB went on a 13-5 run to open the second period, with Peterson's trey tying the game at the 18:55 mark.
"Amanda did a phenomenal job," Smith said. "We talked with her about stepping up and taking more shots, and she got herself open to hit some huge shots for us today." The two teams seesawed their way through the end of the game, with 12 lead changes and 13 ties in the final 25 minutes.
With 3:23 left and the Hokies owning a one-point advantage, freshman guard Amber Jones drained a three-pointer to give UAB a 56-54 lead. Virginia Tech tied the game with 23 second left after a pair of free throws. UAB had the final shot in regulation, but Peterson's shot at the buzzer fell short, sending the game into overtime.
The battle continued in overtime, with five lead changes in the final five minutes. The Hokies tried to pull away when Tech guard Lindsay Biggs hit a three with 2:41 left, but Peterson instantly responded with her sixth trey of the game to knot things up at 62.
UAB followed Peterson's three with another bucket to go up by two, but the Hokies hit four free throws down the stretch to eventually take a two-point lead with seven seconds left. Harris heaved up a shot in the final second, but the ball hit off the front of the rim to end the contest.
UAB will take on UT Arlington on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) in the consolation game of the tournament. The Mavericks (4-6) lost to St. John's, 79-47, earlier in the day.
