Team Effort Lifts UAB to Exhibition Win Over Miles College, 95-53

Tuesday, October 30

Birmingham, Ala.

6 p.m.

UAB

Miles College

Team Effort Lifts UAB to Exhibition Win Over Miles College, 95-53

10/30/2018 9:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

BIRMINGHAM – Four players scored in double figures as the UAB women's basketball team defeated Miles College 95-53 in its exhibition opener on Tuesday night at Bartow Arena.

Junior Rachael Childress paced the Blazers with 17 points, while senior Deanna Kuzmanic, sophomore Lea Kerstein and freshman Margaret Whitley also netted double digit points.

"I told the team in the locker room after the game that you could not have scripted a better exhibition contest," head coach Randy Norton said. "I knew Miles was quick, athletic, and some of the things we have been working on they did a good job of. Miles is quick at getting into the paint with its dribble penetration and the post players do a nice job. But all-in-all we got everybody in the game and they all got minutes. Now we can break down the tape and look at things we want to get better at and improve from this game to the next by Saturday."

Both teams opened the game trading buckets, before UAB went on a 17-4 run midway through the first quarter. Katelynn Thomas sparked the run with an and-one, followed by three consecutive three-pointers as UAB closed the first quarter with a 27-18 lead.

UAB stretched its lead to 20 midway through the second quarter as Kerstein buried a 3-pointer at the 5:32 mark. Kerstein added another 3-pointer, while Whitley scored six of her 11 points in the final 2:14 of the first half to help the Blazers take a 51-29 lead into halftime.

The Blazers opened the third quarter on a 13-7 run as they shot 60 percent (9-of-15) from the field in the quarter. They held the Bears to just 10 points overall to take a commanding 71-39 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter was all UAB as it grabbed its largest lead of the game with 1:20 remaining in the contest as the Blazers sealed the 95-53 win.

Conference USA's leader in 3-point field goals made last season, the Blazers did their most damage beyond the arc tonight as they shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24), including a 66.7 percent (4-of-6) mark in the second quarter.

Childress drained five 3-pointers and shot a game best 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the field. Whitley contributed at the free throw line in her Green and Gold debut as she was 6-of-7 from the line to add to her 11-point night.

"We saw what we see every day in practice out of Margaret," Norton said. "She will be the first one to tell you that she had some freshmen mistakes, but she played really well. She can flat out shoot the basketball, has a great head on her shoulders and makes good decisions."

Thomas led the Blazers on the boards as she reeled in a game-high nine boards and pitched in nine points.

Taylor Terry led Miles with 13 points as she was 5-of-9 from the field.

UAB closes exhibition play on Saturday when it welcomes Young Harris to Bartow Arena. Tipoff between the Blazers and Mountain Lions is slated for 12 p.m. from Bartow Arena.

Women's basketball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to all home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball games in addition to all 15 women's basketball home contests. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.

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).