The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee State
UAB Comes Back to Defeat Middle Tennessee, 62-57
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Box Score 
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Three players scored in double-figures as the UAB women's basketball team used a big second half to come back and top Middle Tennessee, 62-57, on Saturday. It was the first win for the Blazers at the Murphy Center since 1999.
"It was a really gutsy win for our team," head coach Randy Norton said. "We were down 12 with eight minutes to play and our girls didn't quit fighting. They stayed tough and came up with some big plays in the second half. This is huge win for our program to come in and beat Middle Tennessee on the road."
After trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, UAB (15-12, 9-7 C-USA) used an 18-3 run over a seven-minute span in the second half to take the lead. The Blazers finished 43.5 percent from the field and held Middle Tennessee (18-8, 12-4 C-USA) to just 35.6 percent. It was a solid all-around game as eight players scored and UAB out rebounded the Blue Raiders 41-32.
Junior Chelsee Black led the team with 18 points on the day. Senior Janae Smith recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, while sophomore Janeka Williams matched her career-high 11 points.
UAB took the early advantage, 7-3, to force a Middle Tennessee timeout at the 16:22 mark. The break led to a 14-0 run for the Blue Raiders as they took the lead, 17-7. The Blazers were scoreless for six minutes before junior Lauren McGraw sank both free throws to make it 17-9 with 10:21 to go in the half.
The teams traded baskets until Black nailed a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 21-14. Smith followed with a layup as UAB went on an 11-3 run, make it 24-20. The Blazers held MT scoreless for almost six minutes during that span.
Black added another 3-pointer then a stop on the other end gave UAB the ball back with 1:32 to play. Junior Kayla Anderson hit one of two free throws to send to the teams into halftime tied 24-24. The Blazers used tough defense to hold the Blue Raiders to just two baskets in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Middle Tennessee opened up a 32-26 lead with an 8-2 run to start the second half. Senior Miranda Burroughs knocked down a key 3-pointer to make it 36-31 with 13:59 to play. The Blue Raiders stretched their lead back out to 10, but another 3-pointer by Burroughs cut the lead to 41-34.
Down 50-38 with 8:16 left on the clock, UAB continued to work as Black hit a jumper then a stop on the other end led to a 3-pointer by Burroughs. The Blazers used a 9-0 run to make it 50-45 with 6:45 on the clock. A 3-pointer by Black followed by a long jumper for junior Brittany Winborne cut the lead to one, 51-50.
Black, who finished with 12 of her 18 points in the second half, kept UAB within one point with another jumper as the clock continued to wind down. Smith then hit a 3-pointer to put the Blazers in front, 55-53, with just over a minute to play. UAB connected on 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to hold on to its leads and knock off Middle Tennessee, 62-57.
"We had several people make clutch plays," Norton stated. "Janeka (Williams) making her free throws, Janae's (Smith) big three, Chelsee (Black) hit some big shots for us, Miranda (Burroughs) had a three and Brittany (Winborne) made a jumper from the free throw line. It was just a gutsy win."
The Blazers will return to Bartow Arena to close out the regular season with its final two games at home. UAB will host Florida Atlantic on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's basketball news, follow @UAB_WBB.
