Five Score in Double Figures to Guide UAB Past App State, 70-59

Friday, December 1

Boone, N.C.

11:00 A.M.

UAB

5-1

Appalachian State

1-6

UAB

Appalachian State

Five Score in Double Figures to Guide UAB Past App State, 70-59

12/1/2017 2:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Boone, N.C. – Sophomore Rachael Childress scored 13 points to pace five Blazers in double figures as the UAB women's basketball team defeated Appalachian State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, 70-59, at the Holmes Convocation Center on Friday.

The quintet of double-figure performers marks the first time UAB has had five players score at least 10 points since Dec. 3, 2015 in an 82-32 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The win also improves UAB to 5-1, its best start since opening play 7-1 in 2012-13.

"I thought our team played very well at times today and I was very proud of the toughness and poise that we played with in the last three minutes of the game," head coach Randy Norton said. "All-in-all, it was a great team win on the road. Sometimes games will not be perfect and that's when you have to dig in and find a way and I thought we did that today."

Sophomore Miyah Barnes and junior Deanna Kuzmanic each tacked on 10 points in the victory, while Kara Rawls added five points and hauled in a team-high 10 rebounds in her first start of the season.

UAB got another big boost off of its bench as Katelynn Thomas scored 12 points and Imani Johnson netted 11 points to help the Blazers outscore the Mountaineers 28-8 in points by the reserves.

Appalachian State (1-6) was led by LaPresha Stanley and Tierra Wilson who finished the game with 14 points apiece.

The two teams battled in the first seven minutes as the Blazer lead did not eclipse five points. It was the last three minutes of the first period when the Blazers began to impose their will, closing the quarter on a 6-0 run to open a 20-12.

UAB's best offensive output came in the second quarter as the team shot 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from the floor. The Blazers opened a 26-16 lead with 7:08 to play before halftime courtesy of a Johnson layup.

The Green and Gold's advantage remained in double figures for the remainder of the second quarter and saw its advantage get as high as 42-24 before the Blazers took a 42-26 lead into the locker room.

Appalachian State scored the first four points of the second half to cut the lead to 42-30, but an 11-1 run opened UAB's largest lead of the game at 53-31 with 2:23 to play in the third stanza. However, the home team clawed back late in the quarter to cut the lead to 55-39 with 10 minutes to remaining in the game.

It was all Mountaineers to start the fourth quarter as they cut the lead to 55-47 at the 5:54 mark, the first time they had trailed by single digits since the 6:50 mark of the second quarter.

The Blazer lead shrunk to as low as 59-52 before back-to-back steals and layups by Barnes and Kuzmanic pushed the lead to 63-52 with 3:08 to play.

After a Rawls jumper with 43 seconds remaining opened a 70-54 advantage, the Blazers were able to hold off the Mountaineers in the final minute to secure the 70-59 victory.

UAB closes out its four-game road trip on Sunday when the Green and Gold takes on High Point. Tipoff for the game is set for 11 a.m. CST and will be broadcast on the Big South Network and can be viewed here.

For more information on the UAB women's basketball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).