The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Alabama
UAB Tames Jaguars, 73-43
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Box Score 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Opening with a huge first half that included a 37-0 run, the UAB women’s basketball team surged past South Alabama, 73-43, on Sunday afternoon.
“That first half we got a glimpse of what this team can do,” head coach Randy Norton said. "I felt like that was the best basketball we have played since we have been here. We were unselfish, and at halftime I believe we had 16 assists. We had great ball movement, going side-to-side and inside out. I felt like the pressure defense stirred them up and our girls did a great job of anticipating on the back end of that press.”
UAB (6-4) was firing on all cylinders in the first half as the Blazers finished on a 44-4 run and held South Alabama (3-6) to just nine points in the opening period. UAB finished 56 percent from the field, the best the team has shot all season, and held the Jaguars to just 29.1 percent.
The Blazers were trailing 5-2 when senior Janae Smith connected on a layup off a nice pass inside from junior Dy’man Webb. On the inbounds for South Alabama, sophomore Janeka Williams picked up a steal and found senior Miranda Burroughs for a wide open 3-pointer.
Burroughs stayed hot from behind the arc, hitting two more threes to give the Blazers a 13-5 lead and force a South Alabama timeout at the 15:22 mark.
That was just the beginning, as UAB continued to shoot the ball well and put pressure on South Alabama defensively holding the Jaguars scoreless for 15 minutes. During that span UAB shot 56 percent and at one point the Blazers were 63 percent from the field.
Junior Kayla Anderson and senior Janae Smith both reached double figures in the first half scoring 14 and 10 points, respectively as the Blazers took a 46-9 lead into halftime.
In the second half, UAB stretched its lead to 41 points after a layup by Webb but South Alabama would find its rhythm offensively. The Jaguars shot 44.8 percent to score 34 points but the big first half for the Blazers proved to be insurmountable as they took the win 73-43
UAB did a good job of spreading the ball around to find the open player as the team finished with 20 assists and eight different players scored. The Blazers also took advantage of their opportunities, scoring 37 points off South Alabama’s 20 turnovers.
Smith led with 22 points and Anderson finished with a career-high 18 points off the bench. Burroughs and junior Chelsee Black each added nine points and Williams had seven.
Williams had a solid day all-around, leading the Green and Gold with five assists and a career-high five steals.
For the third consecutive game UAB outrebounded its opponent with 39 boards to South Alabama’s 27. The Blazers are 5-2 on the season when winning the battle on the boards.
Ten different players recorded a rebound in the game. Smith picked up her second double-double of the season, leading the team with 10 rebounds. Black and Anderson each finished with five and junior Lauren McGraw added a career-high four rebounds.
“I feel like we are getting better every single day and our girls are seeing what we are talking about,” Norton stated. “We hadn’t played our best ball before tonight, so I am really proud of them and it is a great way to head into Christmas break. We will be off for four days and come back the 26th to go back at it.”
UAB will have a week off before it returns home to host Richmond on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. CT in Bartow Arena.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's basketball news, follow @UAB_WBB.
