The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Rawls, Johnson Lead Blazers Past High Point, 77-61
12/3/2017 2:14:00β―PM | Women's Basketball
HIGH POINT, N.C. β A double-double from Kara Rawls and a perfect shooting outing by Imani Johnson sparked the Blazers' offense as the UAB women's basketball team was able to outrun a pesky High Point squad, 77-61, at the Millis Athletic and Convocation Center on Sunday afternoon.
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Rawls matched her career high in total points with 15 and recorded a career-best 12 rebounds en route to her second career double-double, while Johnson netted a career-high 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting day from the floor.
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"I am very proud of the way the team stayed composed and battled against a very good High Point team," head coach Randy Norton said. "We were very good during periods of the game and continue to improve with each game. I believe we learned a lot from this road trip and we are excited to get back home.Β We want to encourage our fans to come out Thursday as we host a very good Samford team at 6:00 p.m."
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Sophomore Rachael Childress finished the game in double figures for the sixth time this season, posting 12 points and hauling in seven rebounds. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
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Fellow sophomore Miyah Barnes was unselfish in the win, dishing out a career-best nine assists to go along with seven points and five rebounds, while Whytney Singleton, Lea Kerstein and Katelynn Thomas finished the game with six points apiece.
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Despite only shooting 29.4 percent from behind the arc, the Blazers dominated inside and outscored the Panthers 38-16 in the paint. UAB also imposed its will on the glass, outrebounding High Point, 44-27. Β
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The Blazers could not have gotten off to a better start, opening the game on a 12-2 run on the back of five-straight points from Rawls. The Green and Gold continued its dominance in the first quarter, finishing the period shooting 52.9 percent and holding a 21-8 advantage after 10 minutes.
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High Point found its offensive footing in the second period as it cut the lead to 23-16 at the 6:35 mark of the quarter. However, a 10-2 run by the Blazers over the next four minutes opened a 33-18 advantage for the Green and Gold right before the break.
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UAB matched that 15-point advantage at the end of the half, taking a 37-22 lead into the locker room.
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The Green and Gold saw its largest lead of the game at the 8:42 mark of the third quarter as Kuzmanic hit two free throws to extend the Blazer lead to 43-24. High Point answered the call, though, using a 12-2 run over four minutes in the third stanza to cut the lead to 45-36.
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From there, it was all Blazers as the lead never dipped below double digits again and reached as much as 77-59 late in the fourth quarter before UAB sealed its sixth win of the season at 77-61.
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UAB is off to its best start since the 2012-13 campaign when the Green and Gold started 7-1. The win marks the fourth time under Norton that the team has won back-to-back road contests.
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The Blazers return to action on Dec. 7 when the team returns to the friendly confines of Bartow Arena to take on cross-town rival Samford at 6 p.m. before hitting the road once again to take on former conference-rival Memphis on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.
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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).
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Rawls matched her career high in total points with 15 and recorded a career-best 12 rebounds en route to her second career double-double, while Johnson netted a career-high 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting day from the floor.
Β
"I am very proud of the way the team stayed composed and battled against a very good High Point team," head coach Randy Norton said. "We were very good during periods of the game and continue to improve with each game. I believe we learned a lot from this road trip and we are excited to get back home.Β We want to encourage our fans to come out Thursday as we host a very good Samford team at 6:00 p.m."
Β
Sophomore Rachael Childress finished the game in double figures for the sixth time this season, posting 12 points and hauling in seven rebounds. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Β
Fellow sophomore Miyah Barnes was unselfish in the win, dishing out a career-best nine assists to go along with seven points and five rebounds, while Whytney Singleton, Lea Kerstein and Katelynn Thomas finished the game with six points apiece.
Β
Despite only shooting 29.4 percent from behind the arc, the Blazers dominated inside and outscored the Panthers 38-16 in the paint. UAB also imposed its will on the glass, outrebounding High Point, 44-27. Β
Β
The Blazers could not have gotten off to a better start, opening the game on a 12-2 run on the back of five-straight points from Rawls. The Green and Gold continued its dominance in the first quarter, finishing the period shooting 52.9 percent and holding a 21-8 advantage after 10 minutes.
Β
High Point found its offensive footing in the second period as it cut the lead to 23-16 at the 6:35 mark of the quarter. However, a 10-2 run by the Blazers over the next four minutes opened a 33-18 advantage for the Green and Gold right before the break.
Β
UAB matched that 15-point advantage at the end of the half, taking a 37-22 lead into the locker room.
Β
The Green and Gold saw its largest lead of the game at the 8:42 mark of the third quarter as Kuzmanic hit two free throws to extend the Blazer lead to 43-24. High Point answered the call, though, using a 12-2 run over four minutes in the third stanza to cut the lead to 45-36.
Β
From there, it was all Blazers as the lead never dipped below double digits again and reached as much as 77-59 late in the fourth quarter before UAB sealed its sixth win of the season at 77-61.
Β
UAB is off to its best start since the 2012-13 campaign when the Green and Gold started 7-1. The win marks the fourth time under Norton that the team has won back-to-back road contests.
Β
The Blazers return to action on Dec. 7 when the team returns to the friendly confines of Bartow Arena to take on cross-town rival Samford at 6 p.m. before hitting the road once again to take on former conference-rival Memphis on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.
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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).
Team Stats
UAB
HPU
FG%
.492
.350
3FG%
.294
.600
FT%
.933
.667
RB
44
27
TO
14
8
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
Tuesday, June 09
Tuesday, June 09

























