The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Blazers Blow Past Arkansas-Pine Bluff
12/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Coach Norton Postgame Press Conference (video)
Box Score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Five players scored in double figures as the UAB women's basketball team defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 82-32, Thursday night at Bartow Arena.
"We challenged our team coming back from Cancun to carry the fight and passion they showed in the NC State game into tonight," said UAB head coach Randy Norton. "Even when we got up big we challenged them to ignore the score and to continue to focus on playing to the best of our abilities."
The Blazers (3-4) were paced on offense by senior Bianca Dufelmeier with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. Dufelmeier led all scorers in the game and was assisted by Keonna Farmer, Brittany Winborne, Deanna Kuzmanic and Kara Rawls, who each added 10 points a piece.
"The main thing that sticks out to me is that we had 26 assists," added Norton. "That's the most assists we've had in my three years here, that's really being unselfish."
In the opening quarter, Bianca Dufelmeier led the Blazers, putting up seven points in the opening 10 minutes. The teams combined to shoot 8-of-30 (.266) from the floor, as UAB finished the opening period leading 13-6.
The Green and Gold maintained their advantage into halftime due in part to a 16-0 run in the middle of the second quarter to give UAB a 25-point lead with 3:03 to play in the opening half. A Dufelmeier three from downtown closed the first 20 minutes, putting UAB ahead 41-17 at the break.
Returning from the locker room, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-4) fought to erase its deficit, but UAB was too much on both ends of the floor and jumped out to a 14-0 run to begin the half. Led by five points and five rebounds in the third-quarter from Keonna Farmer, UAB built a 42-point lead to end the period.
The Blazers continued to play tough defense in the final quarter, limiting the Golden Lions to 3-of-26 (.286) from the floor in the second half, and just 11-of-60 (.183) for the contest.
"It was a great team effort, everybody got some minutes, which we need so we can reward some of the kids who don't get a lot of minutes, said Norton. "It worked out the way it was suppose to and I am really happy about it."
Arkansas-Pine Bluff totaled 10 turnovers, as UAB scored 13 points off the Golden Lions' mishaps.
The Blazers ended the night shooting 52.5 percent from the floor (32-for-61) and went 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Keonna Farmer notched a season-high 13 rebounds in addition to her 10 points.
"You can see that Keonna is getting more comfortable with her game," Norton said. "She is going to continue to improve on a daily basis."
The Blazers will be back on the floor on Saturday to take on Mississippi Valley State in Bartow Arena at 2:00 p.m. CT.
"Our players and staff love playing in Bartow Arena," said Norton. "It's a great arena to play in and our team has a lot of confidence when we play at home."
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).
