The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Lipscomb
UAB Downs Lipscomb For First Win
11/12/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2013
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Four different players scored in double-figures to propel the UAB women's basketball team past Lipscomb on Tuesday night. The Blazers grabbed their first win of the season with a 70-54 victory over the Lady Bisons.
“We really emphasized moving the ball,” said head coach Randy Norton. “We had fifteen assists tonight, which means that we’re moving the ball, finding the open man, and making that extra pass. Any time you can get four players in double digits, you’re giving yourself a great opportunity to win the game. I thought we rebounded the ball well and we had balanced scoring. So just overall I’m very pleased with our team tonight.”
UAB (1-2) had a solid night all-around, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and grabbing 44 rebounds against Lipscomb (0-2). The Blazers dominated in the paint, scoring 40 points to Lipscomb's 14.
"We kept the team off the free throw line as well as we have all year," remarked Norton. "In our last two games we had put our opponents to the free throw line sixty-three times in two games and tonight they only shot six. That's the reason we played our zone. I thought our girls did a great job recognizing who shooters were."
Senior Ashley Grimes led UAB in scoring for the second time this season with 18 points on the night. Also in double-figures for UAB was fellow senior Karisma Chapman (15), sophomore Chelsee Black (13) and sophomore Kayla Anderson (10). The last time UAB had four players in double figures was the three-overtime game against SMU last season.
The Blazers shared the ball well, dishing out 15 assists on the night and as eight different players scored. Black, Chapman and Grimes each recorded three assists and Anderson, Burroughs and Williams each tallied two.
Defensively, UAB out-rebounded Lipscomb 44-36 as Chapman and Black each grabbed eight. The team took advantage off the rebounds and tallied 14 second-chance points, while holding Lipscomb to just five. Anderson and Chapman each added three blocks. The Blazers' defense held the Lady Bisons to 33.3 percent shooting on the night.
Lipscomb was on the board first, but the Blazers answered quickly with a 13-0 run that included two three-pointers by sophomore Chelsee Black. UAB remained in control and took a 13 points lead, its largest of the half, at the 3:47 mark after a layup by senior Karisma Chapman. The Lady Bisons pulled within eight, but a three from senior Ashley Grimes gave the Blazers a 36-25 lead at halftime.
UAB carried its momentum into the second half, as Anderson blocked a shot by Lipscomb's Ashley Southern and then ran back to make a layup at the other end. The Blazers slowly extended their lead, eventually going up by 18 with 6:22 left in the game.
The Blazers cruised through the rest of the game with several jumpers from Grimes. Lipscomb hit two-straight three-pointers to shorten the margin, but the Green and Gold answered with six consecutive points from Grimes to secure the win.
Ashley Southern led Lipscomb with 17 points. Southern also grabbed 14 rebounds to record her second-straight double-double for the Lady Bisons.
UAB will be on the road this weekend as takes on Richmond on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. ET.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's basketball news, follow @UAB_WBB.
