UAB Opens Season With 80-61 Win Over App State

Friday, November 9

Birmingham, Ala.

6 p.m.

UAB

1-0

Appalachian State

0-1

Appalachian State

UAB

UAB Opens Season With 80-61 Win Over App State

11/9/2018 9:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB women's basketball team improved to 1-0 on the young 2018-19 season as it defeated Appalachian State 80-61 at Bartow Arena on Friday night.

The Blazers have won three consecutive season opening games for the first time since the 1994-97 seasons.

"I just told the kids in the locker room that that was a perfect first game," head coach Randy Norton said. "Appalachian State was very competitive, it runs the ball screen continuity well and it crashed the boards hard. There is a lot of things that we have to get better at, a lot of things we have to shore up especially with our defense and rebounding."

App State hit the first basket of the game at the 9:18 minute mark, but that would be the only Mountaineer lead of the game. UAB tied the game 40 seconds later as Miyah Barnes was good on a jump shot, before Angela Vendrell gave the Blazers a lead it would not relinquish with a field goal at the 8:17 mark. Deanna Kuzmanic and Trista Magee hit consecutive 3-pointers in the final minutes of the first quarter as UAB led 18-14 at the end of the frame.

The Blazers opened the second quarter with a quick basket, but the Mountaineers battled back to tie the game at 20 at the 6:48 mark. After a UAB timeout, the Blazers went on a 15-4 run to close the second quarter and take a 35-24 lead into the locker room.

The Mountaineers grabbed the first basket of the second half, but the Blazers responded by netting the next 10 points to stretch their lead to 16 just before the media break. Barnes closed the quarter by hitting three free throws to give the Blazers a 60-41 cushion heading into the final 10 minutes.

At the 7:57 mark of the fourth quarter UAB grabbed a 24-point lead, it's largest of the game, as Vendrell buried a 3-pointer from the right side, giving the Blazers a 69-45 lead. Margaret Whitley gave UAB its final bucket of the night with 10 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Blazers to the 80-point mark and secure the 19-point win.

"You need to play those kinds of games to see where you need to improve," Norton said. "When you are just playing yourself all of the time and playing exhibition games you do not get exposed. To get exposed and still be able to win a game by 19 points is a sign that we have an excellent basketball team."

UAB shot 46.8 percent (29-of-62) from the field, while it was 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from long range.

Barnes led the Blazers in scoring, netting a game high 19 points. Tonight marked the ninth time in the junior's career that she has led the Green and Gold in scoring. Additionally, the Memphis native dished out five assists and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line and 6-of-11 from the field.

Kuzmanic was just behind Barnes with 17 points as she finished in double figures for the 58th time in her UAB career. The senior was dominant on the boards as well, reeling in a career high eight rebounds.

"Miyah is one of the, if not the, top points guards in Conference USA," Norton said. "19 points, 6-of-11 from the field, five assists, two turnovers in 33 minutes is very, very solid. Deanna had an excellent game, she is so consistent. 17 points and eight rebounds for her. But everybody contributed and you could not have scripted a better first game."

Katelynn Thomas led UAB on the glass as she hauled in nine rebounds, including seven on the defensive end. Thomas finished with nine points as well.

The UAB defense dominated App State as it held them to just 9.1 percent (2-of-22) from long range and just 33.3 percent (25-of-75) from the field. Tierra Wilson and Ashley Polacek both finished with a team high 15 points for the Mountaineers.

UAB renews its longtime rivalry with Memphis on Thursday, Nov. 15, when it welcomes the Tigers to Bartow Arena. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.

"We are excited about having Memphis come in next Thursday," Norton said. "I hope we can have a big crowd for that game. We lost by two at their place last year. Memphis is physical, athletic and we are going to need to play excellent basketball to beat them at home."

Women's basketball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to home baseball and softball games in addition to all 13 remaining 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), on Instagram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).