The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Charlotte
UAB Dominates 49ers 75-57
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Final Box l Highlights
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior forward Brittany Winborne and freshman guard Deanna Kuzmanic posted career-nights in the UAB women’s basketball (9-7, 2-2) 75-57 rout over Charlotte (9-7, 2-3). The duo accounted for 41 points as the Blazers shot a whopping 53 percent (29-of-55) from the floor as it cruised to its 13th-straight regular-season victory at Bartow Arena.
Winborne earned her eighth career double-double as she poured in a career-high 21 points, while dominating the glass with 12 rebounds. Winborne shot 7-of-11 from the floor and went 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Kuzmanic tied a career-high 20 points as she went 4-of-8 from long range, 8-of-14 overall. From there, it was a balanced effort as nine Blazers scored to propel UAB over Charlotte.
It was all Blazer basketball from the start of the game as UAB quickly spurted out to a 15-9 lead. In the opening four minutes, six different Blazers secured baskets in the balanced offensive attack. Charlotte scored four-straight points to cut the UAB lead to four at the first break.
However, Winborne was not going to let the lead slip away. The Flint, Mich., native scored six-straight points as UAB went on a 12-5 run to give the Blazers a 31-20 advantage with 5:37 to go in the first half.
After the 49ers scored back-to-back buckets to chip away at the Blazers’ lead, Winborne sparked another run, 9-2, which enabled UAB to take a commanding 40-26 lead heading into the break. The Blazers ended the half shooting 6-of-7, while holding the 49ers to a mere 2-of-10 shooting from the floor.
After trading baskets to start the third, UAB held Charlotte scoreless from the floor for seven minutes of the third quarter, while extending its lead to 58-35, in thanks to a 13-3 run its largest lead of the night. The Blazers’ unit dominated the third quarter, doubling the 49ers points, 19-8.
To open the fourth, UAB and Charlotte traded baskets. However, the Blazers went without a bucket for three minutes, while the 49ers scored seven-straight points to cut the lead to 14, 60-46, with just over six minutes remaining.
Winborne and Kuzmanic refused to let Charlotte back into the game. The pair scored 13 of UAB’s 15 final points to secure a 75-57 victory over the 49ers.
Charlotte had four players score double figures, led by Kiara Gordon, who ended the night with 16 points. Grace Hunter reeled in a team-high 13 boards.
The Blazers held a 32-28 advantage in points in the paint, and the Blazer bench was crucial as it outscored the 49ers, 14-3.
In the game, the Blazers shot 53 percent (29-of-55), while holding the 49ers to 33.9 percent (20-of-59). After not attempting a free throw in Thursday’s contest, UAB went 12-of-15 from the stripe.
UAB hits the road next weekend for Texas as it faces Rice on Thursday before facing off against North Texas on Saturday for Conference USA action.
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are 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 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 UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Instagram (@UAB_WBBALLs) or on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWomensBasketball). 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) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
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