Blazers Fly Past Alabama A&M, 85-58

Sunday, December 17

Birmingham, Ala.

4:00 P.M.

UAB

8-2

Alabama A&M

4-5

Alabama A&M

UAB

Blazers Fly Past Alabama A&M, 85-58

12/17/2017 8:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A 31-point first quarter coupled with a solid all-around performance by junior Deanna Kuzmanic helped guide the UAB women's basketball team to an 85-58 victory over Alabama A&M in Bartow Arena on Sunday afternoon.

UAB's (8-2) 31 points is the most it has scored in a single quarter this season, while Kuzmanic's 23 points was just one point shy of matching her career high scoring total of 24. The junior also hauled in five rebounds, dished out a team-high six assists and blocked one shot in the win.

The Blazers are now 7-0 all-time against Alabama A&M and 50-8 against opponents from the SWAC. The 85 points scored against the Bulldogs in Sunday's game is the second most scored by the Blazers in series history.

"I am really pleased with tonight's win," head coach Randy Norton said. "I thought we had three really good quarters. Our second quarter is not indicative of how we have been playing, but that is going to happen. That said, I am happy with how we came out in the second half. We played like we started the game. Everyone got really good minutes tonight and we were able to rest our starters, so I was pleased with it."

Sophomore Miyah Barnes nearly matched her season-high point total as she poured in 16 points along with a career-best four steals to help spark UAB's transition offense, while fellow sophomore Angela Vendrell posted a record-setting night, scoring a career-high 11 points and hauling in seven rebounds. Rachael Childress added 8 points, including two 3-pointers.

Junior Maya Garland was huge for the Green and Gold off the bench, adding seven points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Imani Johnson and Talia Roldan added five points apiece. Katelynn Thomas was big on the defensive side of the ball with a career-high three blocks.

Alabama A&M's (4-5) Deshawna Harper led the Bulldogs with 17 points, while Jameica Cobb was the only other Bulldog in double figures with 10 points.

UAB found itself up 9-0 just two minutes into the game after a barrage of shots from the Blazers. The lead was quickly extended to 25-9 at the 2:28 as Thomas converted on a layup to give the Green and Gold their largest advantage of the quarter.

Alabama A&M responded quickly and slashed the lead in half in less than a minute, but the Blazers quelled the Bulldog momentum and end the quarter with a 31-19 edge following two made free throws by Roldan and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Garland.

Both programs struggled to find any offense in the second quarter as the two teams combined for 17 points, but the double-digit lead created by UAB in the first quarter proved to be huge as the Blazers took a 39-28 advantage into the locker room.

The Blazers swarmed out of the gate in the second half, using a 12-4 run to go up 51-32 with 7:12 to play in the quarter after a made 3-pointer by Childress. That margin grew to 64-40 after a Barnes layup to put the Blazers in control with 10 minutes to play.

A triple from Barnes with 5:27 left in the game saw UAB open its largest lead of the contest at 79-46. From there, the Blazers put the offense in cruise control as they sealed the 85-58 triumph for their eighth win of the season.

UAB returns to the hardwood on Tuesday as the Green and Gold hosts Alabama State at Bartow Arena. Tipoff for the in-state matchup is set for 6 p.m. CST and can be viewed on CUSA.tv.

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).