Blazers Bounce Back With 82-47 Win Over Bulldogs

Wednesday, November 28

Birmingham, Ala.

6 p.m.

UAB

5-1, 0-0

Alabama A&M

1-4, 0-0

Alabama A&M

UAB

Blazers Bounce Back With 82-47 Win Over Bulldogs

11/28/2018 8:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The (RV) UAB women's basketball team got back to its winning ways with an 82-47 win over Alabama A&M on Tuesday night at Bartow Arena.

UAB improves to 5-1 on the season as four Blazers finished in double figures led by Imani Johnson's career-high 18 points on an 8-of-8 night from the free throw line. Johnson continued the trend of having a post lead the team in scoring as the forwards have paced the Blazers in the last four games.

"Overall it was a team effort, but we are not satisfied," head coach Randy Norton said. "We are happy we got the win, got a good workout, but we did not do a lot of things well tonight. We gave up 16 offensive rebounds, had 14 assists to 11 turnover which is uncharacteristic of this team. The team came out and their energy and effort level was a lot better in the second half, but we definitely have to get better."

Katelynn Thomas pitched in 10 points and four rebounds as the reigning Conference USA Player of the Week has now tallied double figures in five consecutive games.

"People ask us all of the time how many 3-pointers we try to shoot a game and we do not have a number," Norton said. "We play inside out, we are getting great balance and Katie and Imani have been playing well so we get that balance of being able to play inside out. If teams want to take away the 3-point shot, then we will throw it inside. When they take that away then we will have the 3-point shooters who can knock it down."

Deanna Kuzmanic finished second in scoring with 12 points, going a perfect 2-of-2 from the 3-point line and 4-of-6 from the field. The senior dished out three assists and recorded a steal.

Freshman Margaret Whitley recorded her first double digit scoring performance, going 2-of-4 from long range and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe for a career-high 10 points. She also reeled in a career-best three rebounds.

Collectively, the Blazers shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the field that included a 63.6 percent (7-of-11) mark in the opening quarter.

One of C-USA's best at defending the 3-point shot, UAB held Alabama A&M to 1-of-19 (5.3 percent) from long range. Teams are shooting just 18.7 percent (20-of-107) against the Green and Gold from beyond the arc.

UAB took a lead it would not relinquish before the game ever started as Kuzmanic converted a pair of pregame free throws because of an Alabama A&M technical foul. The scoring continued once the contest officially began as the Blazers opened the game on a 12-0 run, not allowing a Bulldog basket until 5:21 in the first quarter. Kuzmanic drained a triple with a second left on the clock in the first quarter as UAB led 24-8.

Alabama A&M opened the second quarter on an 11-6 run to cut the Blazers lead to 11, but it would not last as Johnson netted the ensuing four points to get UAB's lead back to as high as 17. Free throws in the closing minutes of the half gave the Blazers a 41-22 lead going into the locker room at the break.

The scoring poured into the third quarter for the Blazers as they opened the second half on a 10-4 run before Alabama A&M called timeout with 4:56 left in the frame. The Bulldogs scored the first two baskets out of the timeout, but the Blazers closed the final four minutes of the half on a 12-3 run as they led by 31 with 10 minutes to play.

UAB closed the game on a 9-3 run in the final minutes of the game as it grabbed a 37-point lead, its largest of the game, en route to the 82-47 victory.

The Bulldogs had three players lead the team in scoring with eight points as Lazurea Saunders reeled in a team-high seven rebounds.

UAB closes its homestand on Friday, Nov. 30, when it welcomes Alcorn State to Bartow Arena. Tipoff between the Blazers and Lady Braves is slated for 6 p.m.

Women's basketball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Cards includes access to home baseball and softball games in addition to all 11 of women's basketball's remaining 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), on Instagram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).