UAB Takes Plaza Lights Classic Title After Win Saturday

Saturday, November 30

Kansas City, Mo.

1:00 PM

UAB

Sam Houston State

Senior Karisma Chapman had a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's win.

UAB Takes Plaza Lights Classic Title After Win Saturday

11/30/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Nov. 30, 2013

Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Senior Karsima Chapman scored a career-high 37 points to lead the UAB women’s basketball team past Sam Houston State, 70-59, on Saturday and win the Plaza Lights Classic. The Blazers finished 2-0 to take the tournament title.

“Today was another great team win,” said head coach Randy Norton. “Karisma (Chapman) had an special performance and her teammates did an outstanding job of finding her and getting her the ball. I thought our team really pulled together in the second half and had some big time stops on the defensive end.”

UAB (5-3) has won three-straight games, while ending Sam Houston State’s (5-3) streak of five-straight wins. The Blazers shot 45.9 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line, including 6-of-6 in the final minute of the game.

Chapman’s 37 points led all players, and was the first time a Blazer has scored 30 or more points since Ashley Grimes had 31 against East Carolina last season. Along with Chapman, Grimes put up 14 points for her sixth consecutive game with double-figures. Sophomore Chelsee Black led the Blazers on offense, dishing out a career-high eight assists and added eight points on the afternoon.

Defensively, UAB outrebounded its opponent for the seventh time this season with 40 boards to Sam Houston State’s 33. Chapman led the Blazers with 11 rebounds to tally her third double-double of the season, and sophomore Dy’man Webb added seven boards.

The Blazers opened the game with a quick layup off the tip from sophomore Kayla Anderson. UAB had a five-point lead at the 15:55 mark, but Sam Houston State rallied to tie it up at 14-14. Then, the Bearcats took the lead with a 9-0 run and were up 21-14 with nine minutes left.

Chapman netted three-straight jumpers to close the gap and a three-pointer by junior Miranda Burroughs gave UAB a 30-28 lead with 2:28 remaining in the half. Sam Houston State hit two shots to close out the half with a 34-32 lead.

Out of halftime, the Blazers really attacked the basket, scoring 24 of 38 points in the paint. UAB retook the lead at the 17:57 mark after a jumper in the paint from Chapman. The Bearcats responded and held their last lead of 43-42 with 16:18 remaining in the game. From there, UAB went on a 6-0 run and held Sam Houston State scoreless for six minutes to go ahead 48-43.

The Bearcats tried to fight back, but Chapman converted a layup and got the foul to swing the momentum back in UAB’s favor. Then, Grimes hit three baskets in the span of a minute that pushed the lead to 62-53 with 2:39 left. Sam Houston State had to foul in the final minute of the game, where UAB made six-straight with Grimes going 4-for-4.

UAB will return home to face Arizona on Thursday, Nov. 5 in Bartow Arena. The Blazers and Wildcats are set to tip off at 7 p.m. CT.