UAB Set to Host WKU in Conference USA Home Opener

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After recording two road victories against Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee to kick off Conference USA play, the UAB women's basketball team returns to Bartow Arena on Saturday as it hosts the reigning league champions in WKU at 6:30 p.m.

The Blazers enter Saturday's contest on a six-game winning streak and boasts a 13-2, 2-0 record, tying the 1981-82 squad for the best start to a season in program history.

"I do not look at our game with WKU any different than any other game," head coach Randy Norton said. "We are going to go out and play our best and if we win it, great. If we lose to the game, we will begin to get ready for the next game. We have great respect for WKU. They have a championship program and a tradition for years and years. Our girls are excited to play them."

UAB is coming off two big wins to open league play last weekend as the Green and Gold currently sit third in the conference standings. The Blazers posted a 74-61 win at Old Dominion on Jan. 4 before winning its third-ever game in Murfreesboro over Middle Tennessee, 59-51, on Jan. 6.

Rachael Childress paces the Blazers attack with 14.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. She is also shooting a league-best 45.4 percent from behind the arc, which has propelled the team to a 41.8 3-point field goal percentage, the best in the NCAA.

Junior Deanna Kuzmanic has poured in 13.5 points per game, while sophomore Miyah Barnes rounds out the Blazers' double figure scorers with 11.3 point per contest. The pair has combined to dish out 129 assists, helping the Blazers to a league-leading 2.5 assist/turnover ratio.

WKU (12-4, 3-0) is coming off a huge 101-47 victory over FIU on Thursday night, led by Tashia Brown, who scored 23 points to pace five Lady Toppers in double figures. Freshman Raneem Elgedawy hauled in a school-record 23 rebounds for WKU in the win.

Brown leads the team with 23.1 points per game, while Ivy Brown is second on the team in scoring, averaging a double-double with 15.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest.

The Blazers and Lady Toppers are meeting for the 22^nd time, with WKU leading the all-time series, 17-4. WKU has won the last five meetings between the two programs, with the most recent UAB win coming on Nov. 26, 2011, when the Blazers emerged victorious, 58-36.

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).

UAB Set to Host WKU in Conference USA Home Opener

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Players Mentioned

Miyah Barnes

Rachael Childress

Deanna Kuzmanic

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics