The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Miles
Blazers Race Past Miles College in Exhibition
11/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Deanna Kuzmanic poured in a team-high 20 points to lead The UAB women’s basketball team past Miles College 76-44 in an exhibition game Thursday night at Bartow Arena.
“She does it everyday in practice,” said UAB head coach Randy Norton. “As we tell our players, you play the way in games as you do in practice because it’s a habit. Deanna brings it everyday in practice and she’s been shooting lights out everyday”
Thursday’s exhibition also offered UAB another chance to play under the new NCAA rules format before the regular season starts.
“I think its great,” added Norton. “I was a high school boys coach for a lot of years so playing with quarters is kind of what I was use to, and doesn’t effect us. I like the way it breaks the game down, the game is moving faster with less timeouts, and so far I like it.”
The Blazers constructed an early advantage against the Golden Bears thanks to a 25-0 run in the middle of the first half. Kuzmanic ignited UAB’s offense all night long, leading the way shooting 7-of-13, six of those makes coming from beyond the arc. The freshman also added three rebounds, two assists and two blocks to round out an impressive performance.
Brittany Winborne, Dy’man Webb and Kayla Anderson added eight points each for UAB, while senior Chelsee Black tacked on six points to go along with four assists.
The Blazers controlled the paint again all evening long against the Golden Bears. UAB outscored Miles College 32-12 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 44-29.
All 13 of UAB’s players saw the floor in the game, including 10 in the first half. The Blazers took 62 shots in the game, finishing the night with a .500 field goal percentage.
The Blazers open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 13 vs. Auburn at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn Arena.
“We are excited to go play next Friday at Auburn said Norton.” We’ve got a lot of firepower, we are going to score points if we give ourselves the chance.”
Conference USA Tournament Back In Birmingham
The Conference USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship is set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men’s tournament, as well as the women’s semifinals and championship, will be played at the BJCC in downtown Birmingham, while the women’s first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB’s Bartow Arena.
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).
