Rawls’ Double-Double Powers UAB to 71-61 Win Over FIU

Thursday, January 25

Miami, Fla.

6:00 P.M.

UAB

-163, 51 CUSA

FIU

-613, 33 CUSA

UAB

FIU

Rawls’ Double-Double Powers UAB to 71-61 Win Over FIU

1/25/2018 8:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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MIAMI – Kara Rawls made it perfectly clear that she was the best player on the court on Thursday night as the senior finished with 15 points and 20 rebounds to help propel the UAB women's basketball team to a 71-61 road win over FIU.

Rawls has now recorded two double-doubles this season with her last coming against High Point on Dec. 3, while also becoming the first Blazer to record 20 rebounds in a game since Brittany Winborne brought down 23 boards against Middle Tennessee on Feb. 21, 2016.

UAB (16-3, 5-1) is now an impressive 6-1 on the road this season, matching the most road wins in a season under head coach Randy Norton. The 16 total wins on the year matches the second-most wins by the Blazers under Norton.

Junior Deanna Kuzmanic had a nice bounce-back effort as she poured in 13 points, hauled in six rebounds and dished out a team-high seven assists. Rachael Childress scored in double figures for the sixth-straight game, adding 13 points in a game-high 36 minutes of action.

Off the bench, Imani Johnson was big as the sophomore scored eight points to go along with six rebounds, while Katelynn Thomas added six points and four rebounds of her own.

FIU (6-13, 3-3) was paced by Kiandre'a Pound, who finished with a double-double after scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The Blazers got off to a sluggish start in the first quarter, shooting 24 percent from the field and scoring just eight points in the opening eight minutes of play. Following the media timeout, the Blazers offense came alive, finishing the final 2:03 of the period on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 17-17.

UAB made amends for its slow start to the opening period, jumping out to a 24-17 lead three minutes in following a 3-pointer from Kuzmanic and layups from Rawls and Thomas. A jumper by Miyah Barnes saw the lead extended to 31-21 with 57 seconds left before a FIU with three seconds left cut the lead back to 31-23 at the half.

Rawls came up huge for the Blazers to open the third quarter, scoring six points in the opening three minutes of play to open a 40-28 lead. The Blazer advantage remained in double-digits for the entirety of the third stanza.

After Rawls drew a late charge with nine seconds remaining in the third period, Lea Kerstein buried a deep jumper as time expired to give the Blazers a 54-42 advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

FIU stormed back to kick off the fourth quarter as Pound drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 54-48 at the 8:20 mark. UAB responded nicely, though, as Childress and Kuzmanic knocked down back-to-back triples to push the lead back to double figures with five minutes to play.

The Panthers mounted another rally late in the quarter and cut the lead to 66-61 with 1:49 to play before UAB finished the game off by hitting five clutch free throws to seal the 71-61 advantage.

UAB returns to action on Jan. 27 when the Blazers play host to Florida Atlantic as part of a doubleheader with UAB men's basketball team. Tipoff for the game is slated for 4 p.m. CST.

The team will take part in inaugural Ever Faithful 5K on Saturday morning which is being put on in celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The national event celebrates the importance of fair play, building awareness about Title IX and working together toward its promise of equal opportunity in sports.

Both the men's and women's programs will participate in Family Fun Day during their respective games on Saturday afternoon, celebrating all the Blazer families that do so much to support both programs.

Race participants will receive tickets as part of their registration fee, while fans who purchase an adult ticket for the game will receive one additional ticket for a child for free. More information on both the Ever Faithful 5K and game tickets can be found on uabsports.com.

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