The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
SMU
Stingy Defense Leads UAB To 53-49 Win Over SMU
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2011
DALLAS -- Sophomore guard Amber Jones netted a game-high 20 points and freshman forward Karisma Chapman added 17 as the UAB women's basketball team earned a 53-49 win over SMU on Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum. The win marks the first in program history for the Blazers in Dallas, Texas.
"We've really been focusing on our defense and that's what won us the game today," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "The players were very focused today and, defensively, we did a phenomenal job holding SMU to just 49 points at home. This was a huge growing point for us."
In addition to her 20 points, Jones also had a game-high five steals, while Chapman chipped in four. Sophomore guard Khalilah Watson grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, matching her career-high, to go along with seven points, a steal and an assist. UAB improved to 14-12 overall and 6-7 in Conference USA.
"We're fortunate to have good scorers on this team," Smith said. "We had the right combination tonight, and we were able to ride Amber and Karisma offensively while everyone was doing their job on the defensive end."
UAB held SMU to just 18 points in the first half and collected 10 steals in the contest. The Blazers also out-rebounded the Mustangs, 37-29, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass. UAB forced 15 turnovers in the contest, turning those into 19 points.
SMU (13-13, 6-7 C-USA) was led by guard Haley Day with 13 points and forward Christine Elliott scored 11.
Although UAB dominated the first half, leading 27-18 at the break, the contest became a battle in the waning minutes. Trailing by two points with 4:01 to play, UAB senior guard Amanda Peterson knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 46. Watson followed with two more free throws, and Jones hit one to put UAB up 49-46.
Mustang guard Samantha Mahnesmith responded with a 3-pointer to tie the game with 2:20 remaining. It was all UAB the rest of the way, though, as Day missed a pair of free throws with 1:47 to play and Watson grabbed the rebound. Watson went to the line and knocked down the first of two free throws to give the Blazers a one-point lead.
After SMU's Raquel Christian missed a 3-pointer and Peterson got the rebound, Smith called a timeout to set up a play with 52 seconds remaining. It paid off, as Chapman drove into the lane and rolled in a fingertip layup for her first basket of the second half. Chapman had scored 13 points in the first half and knocked down only two free throws in the second period until the jumper with 34 seconds left.
"We did a good job of maintaining our composure down the stretch," Smith said. "It showed a lot of growth and maturity on our part."
SMU called a timeout with 30 seconds to go, but Elliott turned the ball over out of the timeout and fouled Watson. Watson hit the second of two free throws to seal the 53-49 victory.
UAB returns home Thursday to host UCF. The Blazers and Knights tip off at 7 p.m. CT. at Bartow Arena.
