The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UAH
Jones Gives UAH Double Trouble In Exhibition Win
11/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Amber Jones notched a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists Friday night to lead the UAB women's basketball team to an 81-61 home victory over the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in exhibition action at Bartow Arena.
The Blazers converted 30 UAH turnovers into 40 points and out-scored the Chargers by 17 in the second half to pull away after UAH kept things close and trailed just 33-30 at the break.
Friday's contest was UAB's lone tuneup for its regular-season opener. The Blazers travel to Chattanooga to begin the Preseason WNIT against the Mocs next Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT).
UAB shot 52.3 percent from the floor Friday, including 59.4 percent over the final 20 minutes. The Blazers also had 20 assists on their 34 made field goals.
"In the second half, we ran a lot more of our motion offense," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "We were able to get some layups, get some penetration and kick out to open shooters.
"The biggest thing was that we stepped it up on the defensive end. We didn't drop off their shooters; we contained penetration a lot better. Our post players did a very good job of blocking shots and coming up with the ball, and we were able to get out in transition and get some easy layups."
UAB blocked 12 shots on the night, one more than the Blazers' single-game, regular-season record. Senior forward/center TaRonda Randall had five of those blocks by herself as the Blazers made it tough to score inside. UAH managed to make 11 of 18 attempts from 3-point range in the game, but the Blazers held the Chargers to 9-of-40 shooting from inside the arc.
The Blazers, conversely, made just 4 of 18 attempts from the perimeter but converted 30 of 47 shots from 2-point range.
Jones, a junior guard and the Blazers' top returning scorer, finished her night 10-of-19 from the floor and also tied with UAB sophomore forward Karisma Chapman for game-high honors with five steals.
"Amber played well tonight on the offensive end in terms of knocking down some shots," Smith said. "She did a good job defensively of harassing the ball handler and getting some strips. She was able to get some easy layups that way and find her teammates in transition."
The Blazers finished with three double-figure scorers as Chapman and LaShaunda Pratt joined Jones with 18 and 10 points, respectively.
UAH guard Jordan Smith led the Chargers with 19 points and made good on all five of her 3-point attempts. Guard Bailee Robinson added 10 points for UAH, while forward Natalie Kelley grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
All nine Blazers that saw action scored. Senior center Meagan Brown had seven points, while junior college transfers Kelsie Weynand and Michaelea Kleist had six points each in their first action in a UAB uniform.
The teams combined for 54 total turnovers in the game with UAB giving the ball up 24 times. UAH, though, was able to convert those UAB turnovers into just 15 points.
