The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee
Blazers Drop C-USA Opener At Middle Tennessee
1/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
MURFRESSBORO, Tenn. – The UAB women’s basketball team struggled to find its rhythm against Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at the Murphy Center, falling to the Blue Raiders 68-40. The Blazers were led by senior Chelsee Black who tallied nine points.
“We have to get better,” said UAB head coach Randy Norton. “I told the girls we have to get tougher. We have to get better as post players and improve our guard play, and we will do those things.”
UAB’s (7-5, 0-1 C-USA) normally stingy defense was unable to find an answer for the Blue Raiders as Ty Petty scored 11 first quarter points to vault MTSU to a 24-13 lead following the opening period.
However, the Blazers bounced back in the second quarter, holding MTSU scoreless for the opening six minutes, to cut the deficit to four at 26-22 with 4:18 remaining.
That was the closest UAB would come to Middle Tennessee, as the Blue Raiders responded with a 10-3 run of its own to close out the half. Heading into the break, MTSU held a 36-25 advantage, a lead they would never relinquish, despite a valiant effort from the Green and Gold.
Middle Tennessee (7-5, 1-0 C-USA), the C-USA preseason favorite, continued its stifling defense as it forced UAB into nine third quarter turnovers that allowed the Blue Raiders to take a 54-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
UAB sophomore Keonna Farmer scored six points in the contest to support Black on the offensive end.
The Blazer bench outscored the MTSU bench 17-16, while UAB managed to record seven blocks as a unit.
Kayla Anderson led the Blazer reserves with seven points and five blocks, one shy of her career high, in 22 minutes. T’erra Lewis also chipped in six points.
“Kayla is a veteran player,” added Norton. “We feel like she is going to continue to get better and better, so, today was another step towards showing what she is capable of doing.”
UAB will look to bounce back on January 7, to take on UTSA in San Antonio, Texas.
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).
