The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Hoops Hosts Friday Exhibition With UAH
11/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 3, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's basketball team takes to the court for its first game action Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena when the Blazers host the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) for an exhibition contest.
It will be the first and only exhibition for UAB as eighth-year head coach Audra Smith's team prepares for its regular season, which gets underway next Friday, Nov. 11 with a road contest at Chattanooga in the Preseason WNIT.
Friday's game will mark the first action for the Blazers since closing the 2010-11 season last March with a win on their home floor in the championship game of the Women's Basketball Invitational. UAB is looking to build on the momentum from four straight postseason victories that led the program to its first 20-win season in a decade.
Junior guard Amber Jones is back as the Blazers' top returning scorer after averaging in 12.5 points per game a season ago, while sophomore forward Karisma Chapman returns after a Conference USA All-Freshman Team campaign.
The Blazers also welcome back senior guard LaShaunda Pratt, who contributed 8.8 points per game a year ago, along with junior guard Khalilah Watson and senior center Meagan Brown, a pair that combined to make 66 starts last season. The Blazers return a total of six players with significant starting experience.
UAH, which competes at the NCAA Division II level, is coming off an 11-15 record last season. The Chargers played their first exhibition game Tuesday at Middle Tennessee, falling by a score of 124-55.
Junior forward Natalie Kelley led UAH with 12 points against the Blue Raiders, while sophomore guard Jasmine Hammon returns after leading the Chargers in scoring last year at 18.7 points per game.
