The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
North Texas
UAB Falters Late, Falls at North Texas 53-51
1/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Box
DENTON, Texas – It was a story of two halves, and despite a strong first half showing, the UAB (10-8, 3-4) women’s basketball team fell to North Texas (8-9, 3-4), 53-51, on a last second bucket at the Super Pit. The Blazers were led by senior forward Brittany Winborne who earned her ninth career double-double as she reeled in a career-best 16 rebounds, while pouring in 15 points.
Freshman guard Deanna Kuzmanic matched a game-best as she pitched in 15 points, her fourth-straight game with 15 or more from the floor. The Wheeling., Ill., native who ranks second among all NCAA freshmen in the nation sunk, three treys on the night. Black added eight points for the Blazers.
Despite UAB leading for a majority of the contest, it was a back-and-forth fourth quarter as the squads battled for the final edge. Entering the final quarter, North Texas took its first lead of the contest since the opening quarter as it sank a basket to lead UAB 37-36 with 9:15 to go in the game.
The Blazers fought tooth and nail to tie the game at 44-all with 4:44 to play. Kuzmanic swiped the ball to give UAB a defensive stop, which allowed it to take back the lead at 48-46 with 1:26 remaining. The Mean Green had an answer as its leading scorer, Kelsey Criner gave them back the lead at 49-48. Free throws allowed UNT to extend its lead to 51-48, but the Blazers would not go down without a fight.
After a missed opportunity, Black showed her senior status as she drained a trey to knot the game up at 51-all with 14 seconds remaining in the contest. North Texas’ Criner went coast-to-coast with a layup with just a few seconds to play as UNT completed the comeback, defeating UAB, 53-51.
The Blazers opened up the game strong as it dominated the Mean Green in the first half. Coming out in the first, UAB shot 7-of-14 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from downtown in a balanced attack to lead 17-9 in the opening 10 minutes.
The Blazers extended that lead to take its largest lead in the second, 12, at 23-11, thanks to a 6-0 run. North Texas would not go quietly as it silently chipped away at the Blazers lead, trailing by seven at the midway point, 27-20.
North Texas came out of the break and took the court by storm as it outscored UAB 15-9 to claw their way back into the game. In that span, UNT capitalized on the Blazers’ 4-of-13 showing.
In the game, UAB shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55), in large thanks to its 7-of-14 showing in the first quarter. North Texas shot 22-of-49 this afternoon (45 percent), in thanks to its strong second half showing.
UAB led for nearly 28 minutes in the 40 minute game.
UAB returns to the friendly confines of Bartow Arena as it hosts Western Kentucky on Thursday and Marshall on Saturday. Tip on Thursday is slated for 7 p.m. The Hilltoppers are currently in the midst of a 12-game win streak, while the Blazers have won 14-straight regular season games at Bartow Arena.
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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