The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
High Point
Black Paces Blazers Past High Point
11/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
"I feel like in the second half we just grinded it out with our defense," said UAB head coach Randy Norton. "High Point is a hard team to guard, they were really good at getting in the lane and they can shoot the three and our kids had to adjust to it. I'm just really proud of them and the way they gutted it out in the fourth quarter."
UAB (2-3) jumped out to a 22-14 advantage after the opening period, before High Point guard Emma Bockrath responded with three consecutive buckets towards the end of the second quarter to help cut the Blazer lead to 31-26 as the teams went to the locker rooms.
The Blazers continued the intensity on defense to start the third quarter, taking a 45-39 lead into the final period. UAB extended its lead to nine midway through the fourth quarter on consecutive buckets on second chance points by Kayla Anderson and Brittany Winborne. The HPU comeback attempt fell short as the Blazers continued their dominant play in the paint outrebounding the Panthers 41-30.
Three Blazers scored in double digits, while eight contributed to the team's total. Deanna Kuzmanic tallied 11 points, connecting on two shots from beyond the arc, while Brittany Winborne notched 10 points and nine rebounds. Keonna Farmer added eight points, draining four clutch free-throws down the stretch.
"Keonna is just finding herself, she has no idea how good she is going to be," said Norton. "She is just going to continue to get better and tonight was a big step with her hitting those free throws. Those weren't just free throws, they were pressure free throws so I'm really happy for her."
For the game, UAB shot 41.9 percent from the field and owned a 15-7 advantage on second chance opportunities. The Panthers shot 40 percent from the floor and connected on three 3-pointers.
CANCUN, Mex. -- UAB senior Chelsee Black dropped 14 points en route to a 56-46 Blazer win over High Point University on Thursday evening at the Cancun Challenge.
The UAB reserves were crucial to victory. Kayla Anderson was huge off the bench with four points and eight rebounds, four of which came on the offensive end. Anderson also recorded two blocks, moving within seven of becoming the program's leader in career blocks.
"Kayla Anderson came off the bench and really helped us with our inside defense," added Norton. "Night in and night out you're going to need different players to step up and when you have players who can come in and give them a breather it can be a huge factor."
High Point (1-5) was led by Kaylah Keys and Emma Bockrath with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
UAB returns to the floor tomorrow to wrap up the 2015 Cancun Challenge against North Carolina State at 3:00 p.m. CT.
"We are going to enjoy this win tonight for a little bit then we will go over the North Carolina State scouting report," Norton said. "They are an outstanding team but like I told our players we put together a tough schedule because that's how you get better."
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB) and on Instagram (Instagram.com/uab_wbball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) and on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
