The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
NC State
Blazers Fall To NC State In Cancun Challenge Finale
11/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
CANCUN, Mex. - The UAB women's basketball team dropped a 67-56 contest to North Carolina State at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center on Friday.
"As we told the girls, if we got a few more shots to drop that's a team we could have beat," said UAB head coach Randy Norton. "What I'm most proud about is that we are not going to be defined by the scoreboard because our goal is to play to the best of our ability. What stood out to me most tonight is how our girls played with passion, energy and fight."
The Blazers (2-4) finished the 2015 Cancun Clallenge with a 1-1 record as senior guard Chelsee Black led UAB with 13 points and three rebounds. Forwards Keonna Farmer and Kayla Anderson each finished with 10 points and Deanna Kuzmanic added nine.
North Carolina State (6-1) used an 18-4 run to open the game to help them jump out to a 39-26 advantage at halftime. UAB found themselves going to their bench early in the game as the Blazers committed 10 team fouls in the opening quarter. Dominique Wilson scored 11 of her game-high 16 points in the first half to pace the Wolfpack to their lone victory of the Cancun Challenge.
"We got some girls in foul trouble early and when you get in a hole it's a long ways to comeback," added Norton. "Our girls fought and came back despite the foul trouble and competed until the final horn."
Deanna Kuzmanic started to heat up late in the second half, sinking a jumper from the top of key before hitting a long two from the left wing to bring UAB back within 13 points at the 2:32 mark in the third quarter. Despite a late UAB rally that saw Chelsee Black knock down her second triple of the contest the Blazers were unable to keep the NC State post players at bay as the Wolfpack won the battle on the boards 45-40.
The Green and Gold finished with a 36.5 percent shooting percentage (23-for-63) and went 5-for-20 (25 percent) from 3-point range and 5-for-9 (55.6 percent) from the free throw line.
Kayla Anderson made a huge impact off the Blazer bench for the second consecutive night playing 21 minutes and adding two rebounds and a block in addition to her 10 points.
UAB outscored NC State 46-42 the final three quarters of the game.
The Blazers will be back in action on Dec. 3rd to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Bartow Arena at 7:00 p.m. CT.
"Our team is coming together and growing every day," Norton said. "That's what the non-conference schedule is all about, our team is going to stay true to the process and focus on getting better each and everyday."
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).
