The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Back Home, Open C-USA Play With Rice
1/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2012
Game Notes 
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's basketball team begins Conference USA play Thursday night when the Blazers welcome the Rice Owls to Bartow Arena for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff.
Despite a loss at Florida A&M its last time out, UAB (9-3) got off to a strong start through the non-conference portion of its schedule. The Blazers won eight in a row prior to their 69-59 loss Monday at FAMU and will look to recapture that success against the Owls.
Rice (6-7) also lost its non-conference finale, dropping a 61-54 decision at Lamar on Monday night. Rice sophomore Jessica Kuster enters league play as the only C-USA player averaging a double-double with 18.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Senior Brianna Hypolite gives the Owls a second player in double figures at 13.0 points per contest.
The Owls are scoring 63.5 points per game as a team but will have to contend with a UAB defense that is surrendering just 47.8 points on average. The Blazers allowed a season-high 69 points to Florida A&M but have held nine of their opponents to 47 points or fewer and rank fourth nationally in scoring defense in the latest NCAA statistics.
Junior guard Amber Jones and sophomore forward Karisma Chapman pace the Blazers' attack on the offensive end. The pair combined for 47 points at Florida A&M. For the season, Jones ranks seventh in C-USA with 15.4 points per game, while Chapman checks in at 14.2. Senior guard LaShaunda Pratt also averages 11.1 points for the Blazers.
UAB and Rice have split six meetings evenly since the Owls joined Conference USA in 2005. Rice has won the past two contests, including a 58-52 victory last season in Houston. Jones led three Blazers in double figures with 15 points in that game, but a late UAB rally came up short on the road.
The Blazers have played at home just four times so far this season but have won them all. Their last home game was a victory over Hampton on Dec. 19.
Fans can follow Thursday's action through Gametracker live stats and Blazer Vision streaming video at uabsports.com.
