Clutch Free Throws Help UAB Sink Middle Tennessee, 65-58

Thursday, February 22

Birmingham, Ala.

11:00 A.M.

UAB

22-4, 11-2

Middle Tennessee

16-11, 8-6

Middle Tennessee

UAB

Clutch Free Throws Help UAB Sink Middle Tennessee, 65-58

2/22/2018 3:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Clutch free throw shooting in the final 1:09 of the game held off a surging Middle Tennessee squad late as the UAB women's basketball team completed the season sweep of the Lady Raiders, 65-58, on Thursday.

Up 55-47 with just over a minute to play, the Blazers knocked down 11-straight free throws, eight of which came from Miyah Barnes, to counter a bombardment of made 3-point baskets from Middle Tennessee in the dying moments of the game.

UAB (22-4, 11-2) has now swept Middle Tennessee for the first time in program history after topping the Lady Raiders, 59-51, earlier this season. The Blazers' 12 wins in Bartow Arena this year marks the most since the 2000-01 season and the most under head coach Randy Norton.

"It was a really gritty win, but a great team win," Norton said. "We had to find other ways to win the game and other ways to score. But that's how we have been all year. We have a few players that are consistent and then our bench play produces when we are having a hard time scoring. I am really pleased with the win. Now, have 48 hours to prepare for Louisiana Tech."

Barnes finished with a game-high 19 points and tied for the most assists on the team with three. She has now scored in double figures 18 times this season, the second-most on the team this year. Fellow starter Deanna Kuzmanic poured in 11 points, 16 points shy of becoming the 28^th 1,000-point scorer in program history.

Off the bench, Imani Johnson stole the show by scoring 15 points on an impressive 6-for-11 shooting effort from the floor, good for 75 percent of the benches production in the contest. Katelynn Thomas added 12 rebounds and two points off the bench in the win.

UAB was stout on defense, forcing 15 Middle Tennessee turnovers which it turned into 14 points. The Blazers also outrebounded the Blue Raiders, 29-25, on the defensive end of the floor, while holding the visitors to 35.1 percent (20-for-57) from the floor and 23.1 percent (6-for-26) from long range.

Middle Tennessee (16-11, 8-6) was led by Alex Johnson, who finished the game with 17 points and five rebounds.

Both teams found themselves in a defensive battle early in the game before Johnson capped off an old-school three-point play to put the Blazers up 7-2 midway through the quarter. Middle Tennessee clawed its way back into things over the final five minutes, but a Trista Magee 3-pointer with 31 seconds left on the clock put UAB up 13-9 after 10 minutes of play.

Offense was scarce in the second quarter as the two squads combined for 20 points, resulting in four lead changes and two ties. UAB looked to have a lead going into the break until a Lady Raider bucket with 20 seconds on the clock knotted the game up at 21 points apiece at halftime.

Middle Tennessee scored the bucket of the second half after Johnson knocked down a jumper. What ensued was UAB's best stretch of basketball in the game as the Blazers went on a 16-9 run over the next eight minutes to take a 37-29 advantage at the 2:33 mark of the third quarter.

After having its lead cut to six points at the end of the third, the Blazers stormed out once again, taking a 42-33 lead early in the quarter courtesy of Rachael Childress' only 3-point basket of the game.

UAB's largest lead of the afternoon came at the 3:37 mark of the final frame when Johnson buried a jumper to put the Blazers up 54-40.

The Blue Raiders were not going away without a fight, though, hitting four 3-pointers in the final 1:13 of the game to stay alive. However, 11-straight made free throws from the Blazers in that same stretch preserved the 65-58 win.

UAB returns to action on Saturday as the Green and Gold hosts Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m. in Bartow Arena. The Blazers will celebrate Senior Day before the contest, honoring Kara Rawls, Whytney Singleton and T'erra Lewis for their contributions to the program.

Single game tickets for UAB's final home game are currently on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. Fans can also purchase a Gold Card for admission to women's basketball games, baseball and softball.

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).