The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women’s Basketball Season Preview: The Sophomores
10/8/2018 2:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – With just 22 days until the UAB women's basketball team opens the season in an exhibition match against Miles College each week we will breakdown and get to know each member of this year's squad. This week, it is the sophomores.
UAB returns two sophomores in guard Lea Kerstein and forward Talia Roldan.
Lea Kerstein | Guard | West Chicago, Ill.
After redshirting her true freshman year, Kerstein appeared in 28 games in her first season of action with the program. The West Chicago, Ill., native shot 26.3 percent (15-of-57) from long range as she helped the Blazers set the program record for 3-pointers made in a season (267) and 3-point field goal percentage.
Head Coach Randy Norton on Kerstein:
"Lea is an outstanding, multi-dimensional basketball player. She is a knock down 3-point shooter and really improved on getting to the rim over the offseason. She has great court awareness and does a good job of setting up her teammates.
Lea has one of the biggest personalities on our team and she is an extremely fun player to coach. She has had some injuries that have held her back, but she has worked hard at getting stronger in the weight room and we believe that will help her tremendously. Our staff is hoping she will stay healthy because she will be instrumental to our success this season."
Talia Roldan | Forward | Griffith, Ind.
Roldan appeared in 16 games during her freshman campaign last season. She netted career-highs in points against Samford and then again against Florida Atlantic, while bringing down a career-high four rebounds against Alabama A&M. In the classroom, the biology major was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and earned the league's Academic Medal.
Norton on Roldan:
"Talia has really improved since her freshman year. A lot of that is her getting stronger and more comfortable in our system. She is a 6'4, highly skilled player that has guard skills and can score on the block as well.
Being the only true freshman last season was challenging at times because she had to go through all of the things freshman have to go through by herself. Talia is an outstanding teammate and is all about the team. We believe the big things are in store for her and that she has an extremely bright future."
Fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2018-19 team and honor last season's C-USA Regular Season Championship team at the Hoops Event on Oct. 18. The banner will be revealed at halftime of the men's exhibition match against Georgia.
Season tickets to all 16 of the Blazers' home games can be purchased for $65. By purchasing a season ticket, fans will receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball game. 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), on Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
UAB returns two sophomores in guard Lea Kerstein and forward Talia Roldan.
Lea Kerstein | Guard | West Chicago, Ill.
After redshirting her true freshman year, Kerstein appeared in 28 games in her first season of action with the program. The West Chicago, Ill., native shot 26.3 percent (15-of-57) from long range as she helped the Blazers set the program record for 3-pointers made in a season (267) and 3-point field goal percentage.
Head Coach Randy Norton on Kerstein:
"Lea is an outstanding, multi-dimensional basketball player. She is a knock down 3-point shooter and really improved on getting to the rim over the offseason. She has great court awareness and does a good job of setting up her teammates.
Lea has one of the biggest personalities on our team and she is an extremely fun player to coach. She has had some injuries that have held her back, but she has worked hard at getting stronger in the weight room and we believe that will help her tremendously. Our staff is hoping she will stay healthy because she will be instrumental to our success this season."
Talia Roldan | Forward | Griffith, Ind.
Roldan appeared in 16 games during her freshman campaign last season. She netted career-highs in points against Samford and then again against Florida Atlantic, while bringing down a career-high four rebounds against Alabama A&M. In the classroom, the biology major was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and earned the league's Academic Medal.
Norton on Roldan:
"Talia has really improved since her freshman year. A lot of that is her getting stronger and more comfortable in our system. She is a 6'4, highly skilled player that has guard skills and can score on the block as well.
Being the only true freshman last season was challenging at times because she had to go through all of the things freshman have to go through by herself. Talia is an outstanding teammate and is all about the team. We believe the big things are in store for her and that she has an extremely bright future."
Fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2018-19 team and honor last season's C-USA Regular Season Championship team at the Hoops Event on Oct. 18. The banner will be revealed at halftime of the men's exhibition match against Georgia.
Season tickets to all 16 of the Blazers' home games can be purchased for $65. By purchasing a season ticket, fans will receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball game. 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), on Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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