The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Cal State Bakersfield In WBI Championship
3/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 26, 2011
UAB-Cal State Bakersfield Game Notes | Gametracker | Watch
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's basketball will host the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners in the championship game of the Women's Basketball Invitational on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT in Bartow Arena.
"This is a tremendous experience for our players," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "It has a two-fold meaning for our team because it gives us a chance to win a championship and it prepares our young team for future postseason play. To have the opportunity to come home and win the out-right championship in front of our fans is exciting for everyone."
The No. 2 seed Blazers (19-15) earned a spot in the title game after winning the East Region with a 62-43 victory over Manhattan on Thursday, while No. 3 seed Cal State Bakersfield (22-11) claimed the West Region with a 93-92 overtime win over Chicago State last Wednesday.
Sunday's meeting will mark the first between the two teams. The Blazers are making their seventh appearance in postseason history and first since the WNIT appearance following the 2006-07 season. It also marks the second postseason appearance under the guidance of head coach Audra Smith.
Cal State Bakersfield is making its second appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitational. The Roadrunners fell to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the opening round of last year's WBI. CSUB moved to Division I in 2007.
UAB has won four of its last five, including three straight road games. In the Blazers' last outing against the Jaspers, they tied the school's single-season record with 14 3-pointers in the contest. Senior guard Amanda Peterson led the charge with seven treys for 21 points, while sophomore guard Amber Jones wasn't far behind with five triples and 19 points. Jones leads the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game, while junior center Meagan Brown tops the team in rebounding at 5.6 boards per game.
The Roadrunners have won eight in a row, with six of those wins coming on their home court. Amber Williams is the team's top scorer at 14.8 points per game. Three other players also are averaging double figures for CSUB in Britney McGee (13.1), Tyonna Outland (11.0) and Kristine Herman (10.6). Nikki Leon tops the team in rebounding at 5.8 boards per game.
UAB faculty, staff and students will be admitted free to the game upon presenting a valid I.D.
General public tickets are priced at $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 17 and under.
