The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Blazers Comeback Falls Short at Samford
12/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The UAB women’s basketball team ran out of time Thursday night as the Blazers comeback against Samford fell short, 52-49, at Pete Hannah Center. Junior forward Keonna Farmer dominated the floor with 19 points and 17 boards.
Score: Samford 52, UAB 49 Final Box (PDF)
Records: UAB (4-3), Samford (5-5)
Location: Pete Hanna Center (5,000), Birmingham, Ala.
Series Record: UAB leads the overall series 4-2 overall, 0-2 at Pete Hannah Center
UAB HIGHLIGHTS
- UAB drops to 4-3 in the 2016-17 season and is 4-2 in the all-time series against Samford
- UAB drops its first game in the month of December since a 71-65 OT loss vs. Richmond Dec. 31, 2014
- Head Coach Randy Norton falls to 12-6 in December
- The lineup of Barnes, Kuzmanic, Scheetz, Johnson, Farmer moves to 3-1 on the season
- UAB’s 19 points in the first half is the fewest the Blazers have scored in the opening 20 minutes this season
- The Blazers fall to 0-3 when trailing at the half
- UAB held Samford to a mere four points in the third quarter, the fewest UAB has held an opponent to this season
- UAB is 0-2 this season when only one player scores in double figures
- UAB is 0-1 in games decided by six points or less
- The Blazer’s bench scored seven points, the first time they haven’t scored in double figures this season
- UAB’s two 3-pointers is its fewest of the season dropping its season 3-point percentage to 38.9 percent
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Junior Keonna Farmer dropped a team high 19 points (9-of-12), the seventh double figure game of her career and first of the season
- Junior Keonna Farmer recorded the first UAB double-double of the season and second of her career (19 points, 17 rebounds)
- Junior Keonna Farmer’s four steals ties a career high
- Junior Keonna Farmer’s 17 rebounds is the most since Brittany Winborne’s 17 rebound showing against FIU on March 3, 2016
- Junior Keonna Farmer becomes the sixth player in seven games to lead the Blazers in points this season
- Junior Keonna Farmer recorded double digit rebounds in back-to-back games
- Freshman Micah Scheetz’s three rebounds ties a career high
- Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic made her 38th consecutive start, the longest active streak on the team
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UAB and Samford opened the contest neck-in-neck, as they battled for the first 5 minutes. However, following the first media timeout at 4:39, the Bulldogs used their hot hand to take a 19-8 lead, thanks to a 14-2 run at the 2:28 mark. Micah Scheetz ended the run, but at the end of the first UAB trailed 21-12.
- Back-to-back buckets to start the second quarter cut the lead to six, but Samford responded with a 9-2 run which allowed it to take a 12-point lead, its largest of the contest. Keonna Farmer’s hard work in the paint, allowed UAB to trail 30-19 at the midway point.
- The Blazers came out and played lock-down defense, holding the Bulldogs to a season-low four points in the third quarter. UAB capitalized in the paint as it scored 12 points, 10 from Farmer, which cut the lead to three with 10 minutes to go in the game.
- UAB’s run continued into the fourth quarter as it took its first lead since the second quarter at 35-34 with 8:55 remaining. The Blazers and Bulldogs battled and went bucket-for-bucket in the fourth and time was not on UAB’s side as it fell to Samford, 52-49.
BREAKING DOWN THE BOX SCORE
- Keonna Farmer shot 9-of-12 on her way to a game-high 19 points
- Keonna Farmer reeled in 10 offensive boards on her way to setting a career-high 17 rebounds
- Keonna Farmer swiped a game-high four steals, matching a career-best
- Miyah Barnes dished out a game-best five assists
- UAB, who ranks fifth in the nation in 3FG percentage, was held to just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc
- UAB secured 32 points in the paint to Samford’s 16
- UAB swiped seven steals – all of which were converted to points (14)
- UAB took advantage of its second chance opportunities – out-producing Samford 12-2 in second chance buckets
- Samford tallied 10 blocks to UAB’s four
- The Blazers held the Bulldogs to just four points in the third quarter – the least this season
- UAB held Samford to 0-of-10 from long range in the second half
- UAB outscored Samford 30-22 in the second half
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Randy Norton
On the overall game…
We just didn’t play very well tonight – we didn’t shoot the ball very well from the field, or the free throw line. I felt like Samford gave a better effort in the first half. I thought our kids came back being 11 down and I felt they fought very hard in the second half, but it’s a 40 minute game. When you’re on the road, you really have to play for 40 minutes with that kind of effort and we just didn’t do it.
On Keonna Farmer’s play…
She completely dominated. Keonna, that was her best game as a Blazer. She had 19 points and 17 rebounds but that was all on effort. It was all about how hard she played. She had 10 offensive rebounds – that’s effort – nobody else had more than one. That’s a statistic you look at to see effort. Keonna is the only one that did. You’re going to have nights that you don’t shoot the ball well, that happens, but you have to find other ways to win – you have to get loose balls, take charges, get rebounds. We’ll get better.
On the quick turnaround for No. 7 Florida State…
The only thing I want to focus on is giving a great effort and play with a ton passion and energy. those are things we can control.
UP NEXT
The Blazers return to the friendly confines of Bartow Arena as they host No. 7 Florida State on Saturday, December 10. Tip is at 2 p.m.
For more information on UAB women's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (@UAB_WBBALL)
