The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulane
UAB Drops 64-56 Decision at Tulane
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2010
NEW ORLEANS -- The UAB women's basketball team went on a 17-3 run late in the game against Tulane, but it was not enough as the Blazers fell to the Green Wave, 64-56, on Saturday at Fogelman Arena.
"We played with a sense of urgency in the final six minutes, but by then it was too late," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "Tulane's full-court pressure rattled us in the first half and we didn't settle into our defense until almost halftime. We did a better job of rebounding and attacking the basket in the second half. Now we just need to build on the momentum of how we finished that game heading into our next one."
Senior forward Tamika Dukes led the Blazers (11-14, 5-8 C-USA) with 17 points and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Amber Jones chipped in eight points. It marked Dukes' 21st double-digit game and 17th in the last 18 contests.
The Green Wave (21-5, 10-3 C-USA) was led by forward Tiffany Aidoo with 17 points. Guards Roshaunda Barnes and Chassity Brown added 12 points and 11, respectively.
Tulane finished the game shooting 41.4 percent from the field, while UAB shot 35.5 percent. The Blazers collected a season-high 50 rebounds compared the Green Wave's 31, including 23 on the offensive glass which led to a 14-8 advantage in second-chance points.
The Green Wave forced 27 Blazer turnovers, including 18 in the first half, while turning the ball over 18 times.
Tulane led by as many as 22 before heading into halftime leading, 44-28, The Blazers scored five points in the final 27 seconds to carry the momentum into the break.
UAB cut the Green Wave's lead to 13 early in the second half before Tulane stretched it back to 22 with 10:09 to play. That's when the Blazers turned up the heat at both ends, holding Tulane to one field goal in the final 10:09 during the 17-3 run.
The Blazers return home for the final three games of the season, beginning with East Carolina on Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. CST.
