Blazers Drop Heartbreaker at Louisiana Tech

Thursday, January 26

Ruston, La.

6:30 PM

UAB

LA Tech

Blazers Drop Heartbreaker at Louisiana Tech

1/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Jan. 26, 2017

Final Stats

Score: Louisiana Tech 64, UAB 63 Final Box (PDF) Season Stats
Records: UAB (10-9, 3-5 C-USA), Louisiana Tech (10-9,5-3)
Location: Thomas Assembly Center
Series Record: UAB leads 3-2, In Ruston: tied 1-1; Norton vs. LA Tech: 3-2 

RUSTON, La. – The UAB women’s basketball team saw a 16-point lead fade away as it fell to Louisiana Tech 64-63 at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, La. Rachael Childress led the Blazers with 15 points while Katelynn Thomas reeled in a career-high seven boards. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blazers spurted out to an early 7-2 lead, but the Lady Techsters quickly evened the score on a 5-0 run. Neither team led by more than two to end the quarter as UAB and LA Tech were knotted at 16-all.
Back to back free throws to start the second quarter allowed the Lady Techsters to take a 19-16 lead, its largest of the half. However, a 7-0 run by the Blazers allowed UAB to head into the half with a seven-point lead, 29-22.
To open the third, UAB extended its lead to nine, but LA Tech countered with a 9-0 run to make it 31-all with 7:13 to play in the third – but Katelynn Thomas halted the run with a layup to give the Blazers back the advantage with 7:03 time to play. After trading baskets with the Lady Techsters, UAB closed out the final 1:13 on a 9-0 run, courtesy of three straight 3-pointers by Childress and Kuzmanic to lead 51-40 with 10 minutes to play.
UAB maintained its lead until a 13-0 LA Tech run, combined with five scoreless minutes by UAB, cut the Lady Techster’s deficit to three, 58-55, with two minutes to play.
In the final two minutes of play LA Tech outscored UAB 7-4 as it claimed the 64-63 win.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Freshman Rachael Childress’ 15 points is the seventh 15+ game of her career; Childress has led the Blazers in scoring a team-best eight times
Junior Whytney Singleton dished out six assists tying her career-high
Freshman Katelynn Thomas’ seven rebounds marks a career-high; Thomas attempted a career-high five field goals, tied her career of four made field goals for the second time and played a career-high 28 minutes
Thomas and Junior Kara Rawls each reeled in a team-best seven boards; Marking Thomas’ first time leading the team in rebounding and Rawls’ third time
Freshman Miyah Barnes has hit a two or more 3-pointers in six of the Blazers’ conference contest this season; in conference-only action she is shooting 15-of-24 from long range (62.5 percent), a league high
Barnes hit a career-high two 3-pointers for the sixth time of the season
Senior Janeka Williams reeled in a season-best four rebounds for the second time this season; first was against South Alabama Dec. 21, 2016
Junior Whytney Singleton attempted a career-high four free-throws for the seventh time in her career
Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic made her 50th consecutive start, the longest active streak on the team while Farmer made 19th career start, a career long; Barnes made her 16th consecutive start, the most by a freshman on the roster

 TEAM NOTES

UAB drops to 10-9 this season and 3-5 in C-USA play
Head coach Randy Norton drops to 59-53 overall and 28-32 in conference play
The starting lineup of Deanna Kuzmanic, Miyah Barnes, Rachael Childress, Keonna Farmer, and Janeka Williams drops to 3-3; all three loses on the road in league play
UAB dished out 20 assists, its fourth game this season with 20 or more assists
The Blazers outscored the Lady Techsters’ bench 19-17; the Blazers are 7-6 when outscoring its opponent’s bench this season
Tonight was UAB’s fifth C-USA game decided by three points or less; the Blazers are 1-4 in league play in games decided by three points or fewer
UAB drops its first game on the road against LA Tech (2-1) in program history
UAB held LA Tech to six points in the second quarter, tying a season low (South Alabama, Dec. 21, 2016)

BREAKING DOWN THE BOX SCORE

UAB led by 16 points with 6:53 to play in the contest; LA Tech’s largest lead with three points (9:09, second quarter)
UAB’s bench outscored LA Tech’s 19-17 while LA Tech led in points in the paint (36-24), points off turnovers 18-9, second chance points 23-4 and fast break points 8-5
UAB shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the floor; 20 of those buckets were assisted
UAB shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the free throw line while LA Tech shot 43.8 percent (7-of-16)
LA Tech’s Alexus Malone led all players in scoring with 21 points while Kierra Anthony pitched in 19 points; the duo shot 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) from the floor

UP NEXT
The Blazers continue the road swing on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. taking on Southern Miss at 4 p.m. in Reed Green Coliseum. UAB then returns to Bartow Arena to take on UTEP Thursday night at 7 p.m.   

For more information on UAB women's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (@UAB_WBBALL)