The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Illinois State
UAB Edged By Illinois State in Overtime, 63-55
12/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2010
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico -- Sophomore guard Jala Harris scored a game-high 23 points, but the UAB women's basketball team dropped a 63-55 nailbiter to Illinois State in overtime in the finale of the Caribbean Classic on Tuesday afternoon. Harris, who led the Blazers (7-4) with 13 points in Monday's win over Ball State, earned all-tournament honors.
"The game was back and forth all the way through," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "I think when (Illinois State) hit the late jumper to tie it up, I could see the deflation in our kids because they had played so hard. I'm so proud of the way they played defensively.
"This was our first overtime game and Illinois State is a very experienced team that doesn't get rattled. It was hard for us to catch up when they got on that run. But having the experience of a game like this under our belts is only going to help us grow this season."
Sophomore guard Amber Jones also cracked double figures for the Blazers with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half and overtime.
For Illinois State (6-3), Shala Jackson and Emily Hanley each reached double figures, scoring 15 and 12, respectively. Kenyatta Shelton collected a game-best 16 rebounds.
After nearly a five-minute drought to open the game, UAB went on a tear thanks to a trio of three-pointers by Harris. Harris' nine straight points sparked an 11-2 run for the Blazers, giving them a six-point lead with 12:08 to play in the first half. She finished the half with 13 points.
The Redbirds regained the lead on a 12-0 run before eventually taking a five-point lead into the break.
UAB opened the second frame with a 10-3 run to take its first lead since the 11:24 mark of the first half. The game would seesaw through the latter period with neither team stretching the lead to more than four points during the remaining time in regulation.
"We talked about coming out and getting stops in the second half, and we did that," Smith said. "When we focus on defense first, it's easier for our offense to flow."
The Blazers led 47-44 with 3:20 remaining in the second half before the Redbirds sank three straight free throws to tie it. Jones drained a jumper with 45 seconds remaining to put UAB back on top, but Illinois State again tied the game thanks to a jumper from Katie Broadway with 30 seconds to go. The Blazers had the final shot in regulation, but Jones' jumper from the top of the key hit off the rim to send the game to overtime.
Illinois State quickly took control in the overtime period, scoring eight unanswered points. The Blazers managed to cut the Redbirds' lead back to five with 58 seconds left in the overtime period, but it was as close as UAB would get as Illinois State held on for the eight-point win.
UAB will take a break for the holidays before returning to the hardwood on Dec. 29 at Missouri. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT.
