Blazers Grind Out Tough Win Over Middle Tennessee, 59-51

Saturday, January 6

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:00 P.M.

UAB

13-2, 2-0

Middle Tennessee

8-7, 0-2

UAB

Middle Tennessee

Blazers Grind Out Tough Win Over Middle Tennessee, 59-51

1/6/2018 9:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Playing in one of the toughest environments in Conference USA, the UAB women's basketball team went into the Murphy Center and snatched its third-ever win in Murfreesboro as the Blazers emerged victorious over the Blue Raiders, 59-51, on Saturday night.

The Blazers' (13-2, 2-0) win snapped a four-game skid against the Blue Raiders and gave the Green and Gold their first win in Murfreesboro since winning 76-68 on Feb. 28, 2015.

"I am really proud of our ladies," head coach Randy Norton said. "I thought we played tough and I thought we played with a lot of poise, especially in the fourth quarter. Most of the time when we play Middle Tennessee, the games go right down to the fourth quarter and a lot of times Middle has pulled those games out. It was nice to go on the road and pull out a close game like that."

Sophomore Katelynn Thomas balled out in the win, scoring a game-high 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting while hauling in three rebounds and adding a block in a career-high 20 minutes. Junior Deanna Kuzmanic added 16 points and three assists, while Rachael Childress scored in double figures for the 12^th time this season after adding 12 points.

Miyah Barnes continued to be a force sharing the ball as she posted a game-high five assists to zero turnovers to go along with four points. Kara Rawls led the Blazers on the glass with eight rebounds.

UAB was dominant in the paint as it outscored Middle Tennessee 30-18. The defense was also stout in the win as the Blazers forced 17 turnovers which it used to score 16 points compared to the Blue Raiders' eight points off turnovers.

Middle Tennessee (8-7, 0-2) was led by Gabby Lyon, who finished the game with a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Blazers found themselves in a defensive shootout in the first quarter as both teams struggled to find any rhythm. The momentum began to change at the 4:39 in the opening period as Thomas hit layups on back-to-back possessions to open an 8-4 lead.

After closing out the opening quarter with a 12-8 advantage, Childress opened the Blazers' largest lead of the first half as she drained a 3-pointer one second into the second quarter to put UAB ahead 15-8.

The home team was not going to go away without a fight, though, as the Blue Raiders tied the game up at 23 points apiece with 3:03 remaining in the half on the back of a 10-3 run, with four of those points belonging to Abbey Sissom.

However, the Blazers regained the lead after Thomas and Kuzmanic connected on back-to-back layups to send the Green and Gold into halftime up 27-23.

It was the Blue Raiders who stormed out of the gate in the second half, using a 5-0 run to go up 28-27, their first lead since the 7:04 mark in the opening quarter. Angela Vendrell put an end to the run from distance as she connected on a 3-point basket to put the Blazers back ahead.

The following nine minutes of the third period went back and forth as the lead changed hands six times and the game was tied up three times.

Up 46-44 entering the final quarter, Kuzmanic took over and rattled off five quick points including a deep 3-pointer to put the Blazers up 51-44 with 9:09 to play. The dagger came with 2:04 remaining as Barnes stole a pass and drove the length of the floor to convert a layup and put UAB ahead 58-49.

The lead went as high as 59-49 in the final two minutes of play after a made free throw by Imani Johnson before UAB was able to milk the clock and secure its second C-USA win of the season.

UAB returns home next Saturday as it opens a three-game homestand against WKU on Jan. 13. The game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. CST tipoff and will be broadcast live on beIN Sports Connect.

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).