UAB Falls to Charlotte, 80-71

Saturday, February 17

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 P.M.

UAB

21-4, 10-2

Charlotte

12-13, 8-4

Charlotte

UAB

UAB Falls to Charlotte, 80-71

2/17/2018 6:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Season Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women's basketball team found itself down two points with 4:04 remaining in the game but could not find the breakthrough it needed as the Blazers came up just short against Charlotte, 80-71, on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Deanna Kuzmanic scored a game-high 23 points in the loss on the back of a career-high 10-made field goals, while senior Kara Rawls recorded her fourth double-double of the season after scoring 11 points and bringing down 17 rebounds.

"You have to give a lot of credit to Charlotte," head coach Randy Norton said. "I thought they played really well today. I don't feel like it was our best effort. We didn't quit and we kept fighting, but we just didn't play good enough."

Sophomore Miyah Barnes rounded out the trio of double-figure performers, scoring 12 points in the game and dishing out a team-best five assists, pulling her season total to 124 assists on the year. She is now just two assists shy of breaking into the top-10 for the most in a single season.

UAB's (21-4, 10-2) bench played an important role in the game, adding 16 points. Lea Kerstein had six of those points on the back of two triples, while Katleynn Thomas (4), Trista Magee (3) and Imani Johnson (3) also found their way onto the scoring sheet off the bench.

The Blazers were able to put together a solid shooting night from behind the arc, finishing the game 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) from long range to pull within seven made 3-point baskets of the school record for most triples in a season (219). UAB also went 11-for-13 (84.6 percent) from the charity stripe to stay in the thick of things throughout the afternoon.

Charlotte (12-13, 8-4) did its damage on the glass and in the paint, outrebounding the Blazers, 40-35, while outscoring the Green and Gold, 32-28. Senior Nyilah Jamison-Myers led a trio of 49ers in double figures with 20 points.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as the largest lead for either team was three points. It was not until late in the second period that Charlotte broke open the game as a Jamison-Myers layup gave the 49ers a 34-26 lead with 2:05 before the break.

After cutting the lead to 34-31 at halftime, Charlotte darted out again, opening a 47-34 advantage at the 5:43 mark of the third quarter following a Jaida Robinson layup. Kuzmanic then cut the lead to 49-43 three minutes later, but a stifling attack from the 49ers kept their lead intact heading into the final frame.

UAB's offense showed some life in the heart of the fourth quarter, using a 9-0 run over a 2:19 stretch to pull the Blazers within two points, 64-62. However, Charlotte finished the game on a 16-11 run that included 10-straight made free throws to seal its 80-71 victory.

The Blazers return to action on Thursday as UAB hosts Middle Tennessee on Education Day. Tipoff for the midday contest is slated for 11 a.m. (CST)

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).