The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Set for UAPB, MVSU
12/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
UAB (2-4) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-3)

Thursday, December 3 - 7 p.m. CT| Birmingham, Ala. - Bartow Arena
Live Stats | Game Notes | Live Audio | Watch Live
UAB (2-4) vs. Mississippi Valley State (1-6)

Saturday, December 5 - 2 p.m. CT| Birmingham, Ala. - Bartow Arena
Live Stats | Game Notes | Live Audio | Watch Live
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's basketball team hits the court for the first time since the Cancun Challenge to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State at Bartow Arena.


UAB opens the homestand vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday. Tip-off against the Golden Lions is set for 7 p.m. CT. The Blazers continue the action on Saturday vs. Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. CT.


Fans can listen to the game free on UABsports.com with former Blazer Holly Berry on the call.


Blazer Bullets

- UAB has won all three previous games against the Golden Lions, the most recent matchup taking place in Birmingham on Dec. 19, 2014 with the Blazers coming out on top 65-56. Chelsee Black connected on three triples to vault the Blazers to victory.
- The Blazers are 6-0 all-time vs. MVSU. The two teams last met in 2012 with the Green and Gold coming out on top, 70-47.
- Brittany Winborne is currently third in C-USA in rebounding with 8.7 per game.
- UAB's six opponents are a combined 24-12 entering Thursday's contest vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- Kayla Anderson enters Thursday with 119 career blocks, second most in Blazer history, and only six behind tying the program record held by Deanna Jackson.
Last Time Out


UAB finished with a 1-1 record in the 2015 Cancun Challenge after a win over High Point and a loss to North Carolina State. Chelsee Black paced the Blazers on offense in Mexico, notching 14 points against High Point and 13 vs. NC State. The Blazers fought to the final horn as they went for the weekend sweep against the Wolfpack but were undone by early foul trouble and a 25-10 first quarter deficit. The Green and Gold outscored NC State 46-42 in the final three quarters.


Scouting the Opponents


The Golden Lions enter Thursday's contest with a 3-3 record. Arkansas-Pine Bluff went 2-0 this past week in the HBCU Classic with victories over Tougaloo College and Talladega College. Niya Head has lead UAPB in scoring four times this season and has also tallied two double-doubles to pace the Golden Lions on both ends of the floor.


Mississippi Valley State is off to a a 1-6 record through seven games. The Devilettes faced four SEC opponents to start the season before falling to Southern Miss and Nicholls State. MVSU picked up it's lone win Monday against Blue Mountain College, 72-67.


Strength of Schedule


The Blazers have faced a difficult non-conference schedule early in the 2015-16 campaign. Four of the six opponents UAB has faced only have one loss and are a combined 21-4. Entering Thursday UAB opponents have a combined record of 24-12.


Cancun Challenge All-Tourney Team


UAB senior guard Chelsee Black, who scored in double-figures in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday, was named to the 2015 Cancun Challenge Mayan Division All-Tournament Team. The Bessemer, Ala. native, has led the Blazers in scoring in four games this year. During the event she connected on nine field goals, knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.


Anderson's Block Party

Kayla Anderson, who set the UAB single season record with 56 blocks as a sophomore, is on pace to pass Deanna Jackson for the most total blocks in program history. Anderson recorded three blocks during the Cancun Challenge and has moved within six of tying the record (125).

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 Legacy Arena 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).
