The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Mississippi Valley State
Balanced Offense Paces UAB to Win Over Mississippi Valley State
11/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Score: UAB 80, Mississippi Valley State 46 Final Box (PDF)
Records: UAB (3-2, 0-0 C-USA), Mississippi Valley State (2-3, 0-0 SWAC)
Location: Birmingham, Ala. at Bartow Arena (8,500)
Series Record: UAB remains a perfect 8-0 against MVSU, 6-0 in games played at Bartow Arena
UAB HIGHLIGHTS
- Freshman Katelynn Thomas made her UAB debut - all seven active freshmen have made an appearance this season
- Freshman Miyah Barnes' eight assists set a career high. She passed her previous high of four 14 minutes into the game
- Freshman Rachael Childress' 12 points is the third double figure scoring game of her career
- Junior Whytney Singleton's 10 points is her first double figure scoring game this season, the second of her career; she tied a career-high with two threes
- Freshman Rachael Childress reeled in a career-best five rebounds
- Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic netted 11 points, her third double figure game of the season; 23rd of her career
- Freshman Micah Scheetz scored 13 points, her second time leading UAB scorers
- Junior Keonna's Farmer's three blocks set a career-high
- Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic made her 36th consecutive start, the longest active streak on the team
- Freshman Katelynn Thomas' first career basket came at the 1:43 mark of the third quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a slow start, the Blazers used an 11-3 run to close out the first quarter, allowed UAB to lead 18-8. UAB shot hot from 3-point range during the run which included four triples.
- The Devilettes and Blazers went back and forth to start off the second quarter, but a 10-0 run allowed UAB to extend its lead to 32-14 with 4:20 to go in the opening half.
- UAB came out of halftime and dominated as it outscored Mississippi Valley State 24-5, including an 18-0 run to end the third quarter.
- In the fourth, the Blazers worked on their zone defense, which allowed the Devilettes to match UAB's offense as both teams scored 18 points apiece, but the Blazers maintained the lead on their way to an 80-46 win.
BREAKING DOWN THE BOX SCORE
- In the balanced team attack, 12 players found the bottom of the net - including four in double figures (Scheetz, Kuzmanic, Singleton and Childress)
- Micah Scheetz paced the UAB offense with 13 points - she shot 5-of-7 overall and was a perfect 3-of-3 from long range
- The Blazers dished out 23 assists, including Miyah Barnes' eight assists, a game and career-best
- UAB shot 55.4 percent from the floor (31-of-56) and a whopping 60.0 percent from 3-point range (12-of-20)
- UAB outscored MVSU 24-5 in the third quarter - the least amount of points allowed in a quarter all season
- UAB led for 36:42 - while MVSU led for just 32 seconds.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Randy Norton
Opening Statement...
"It was a great team win. One of the first stats that we always look at are the assists and we had 23 assists. Anytime we do that it means that we are moving the ball and I felt like we moved the ball much better in the second half than we did in the first half. It was a good team win and we are thankful to get a home win going into Saturday's game with Southern Illinois."
Head Coach Randy Norton
On Micah Sheetz driving into the lane...
"I would like to see her drive more. I always tell her to be Micah and that is what she does. When we recruited her we knew she could definitely knock down the three but her game is attack. She can get in the paint and make plays and finish and I was really proud of the way she played tonight."
Miyah Barnes | Freshman | Guard | Memphis, Tenn.
On moving the ball around a lot tonight...
"I was looking for my shooters tonight. I was just getting them the ball, attacking and penetrating, and then just being unselfish with the ball."
Micah Sheetz | Freshman | Guard | Knoxville, Tenn.
On leading all scorers with 13 points and knocking down from three...
"When I was open I was taking them but I didn't want to settle for the three ball always, I was looking to drive. I was looking for both tonight."
TEAM NOTES
- UAB improves to 3-2 during the 2016-17 season, and remains undefeated against Mississippi Valley State
- Randy Norton remains undefeated against SWAC opponents (6-0)
- UAB holds a 270-146 mark in games played at Bartow Arena
- UAB moves to 16-3 against SWAC opponents
- Tonight's game is the third time UAB's bench has out-produced its starting five
- Mississippi Valley State's eight points in the first quarter tied the fewest an opponent has scored this season in the opening 10 minutes (Gardner-Webb)
- UAB's 18 points in the first quarter tied the most the Blazers have scored in the opening period this season (Gardner-Webb)
- The Blazers 38 points in the first half is the most the Blazers have scored in the opening 20 minutes this season
- UAB lead by 15 at halftime - marking its largest first half lead this season
- Mississippi Valley State's five points in the third quarter is the fewest points the Blazers have given up in a quarter this season
- UAB's 80 points ties is the most the Blazers have scored this season (No. 21 DePaul)
- The Blazers won by 34 points, their largest margin of victory this season
UP NEXT
UAB hits the road this weekend as it travels to Carbondale, Ill., to face Southern Illinois on Saturday, December 3. The Blazers then travel to across town rival Samford on December 8. The Blazers' next home game comes when it welcomes No. 8/9 Florida State on December 10.
For more information on UAB women's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (@UAB_WBBALL)
