The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Opens Regular Season
11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women’s basketball team opens the 2012 regular season on Friday when the squad hosts Austin Peay at Bartow Arena. Opening tip is scheduled for Noon CT.
The contest will be the 13th all-time meeting between the two programs with the Blazers holding a 10-2 advantage in the series that dates back to 1988. UAB has won three straight against the Governors, including last year’s 49-45 win in Clarksville, Tenn.
UAB enters 2012-13 off last season’s 19-11 overall record and 9-7 mark in Conference USA play. The Blazers are picked to finish third in the league this season, just behind Tulane and UTEP.
Led by 2011-12 Second-Team All-Conference USA selections Karisma Chapman and Amber Jones, the Blazers enter Friday’s contest following a strong showing in exhibition play. UAB defeated Brewton-Parker, 75-29, on Oct. 28, before ousting the University of Alabama at Huntsville, 74-35, on Nov. 5.
Chapman is the team’s leading scorer (17 points) through two preseason games after she fell just two rebounds (8) shy of a double-double against UAH. Meanwhile, newcomer Ashley Grimes has had an impressive start to her UAB career with two double-figure scoring efforts in the preseason.
Austin Peay opens the 2012-13 season after going 9-22 overall in 2011-12. The Lady Govs are picked to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference West Division.
Head coach Carrie Daniels' team enters the matchup after a dominating 101-67 win against Martin-Methodist in the squad’s only exhibition contest. The Governors were led by six players who each scored in double figures, including junior guard Nicole Olszewski’s 19 points.
Following Friday’s game, UAB travels to Alabama A&M on Monday for a 6 p.m. CT tip before heading to Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday to take on Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. CT.
