Blazers Grind Out 66-61 Victory over LA Tech

Sunday, February 4

Ruston, La.

2:00 P.M.

UAB

19-3 (8-1)

Louisiana Tech

14-9 (5-5)

UAB

Louisiana Tech

Blazers Grind Out 66-61 Victory over LA Tech

2/4/2018 6:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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RUSTON, La. – After falling behind 58-54 with 2:14 remaining, the UAB women's basketball team showed its never-say-die mentality as clutch 3-pointers from Imani Johnson and Miyah Barnes and timely free throw shooting saw the Blazers finish the game on a 12-3 run and overtake Louisiana Tech, 66-61, on Sunday afternoon.

UAB's (19-3, 8-1) 19 victories this season are the most under head coach Randy Norton, surpassing the team's previous best win total of 18 under the fifth-year head coach. The Blazers are continuing to rewrite the history books as the team is off to its best start in program history and is now just one game away from their first 20-win season since the 2010-11 season and ninth all-time.

"Tonight I saw a group of girls that just found a way to win," Norton said. "Louisiana Tech had the momentum the entire game, but wow, I am so proud of our team. Everybody who played contributed to this win. It just shows you that we have a bunch of fighters out there. I am just really proud of them."

Johnson finished the game tied with Deanna Kuzmanic for the team lead in scoring, pouring in 13 points on a 5-for-9 shooting night that included a clutch 3-pointer to jumpstart the winning 12-3 run at the 1:56 mark of the game. The sophomore has now scored in double figures eight times this season.

Barnes scored all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter, shooting 50 percent from the floor (4-for-8) and 75 percent (3-for-4) from behind the arc as well as dishing out a game-high seven assists to just three turnovers.

Fellow sophomore Rachael Childress rounded out the quartet of Blazers in double figures, recording 11 points in the victory, while senior Kara Rawls finished the game one point shy of her fifth career double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Rebounding was key in the victory as UAB pulled down 44 boards to LA Tech's 31. The Blazers' inside presence also played a big role in the win with the Green and Gold outscoring the Lady Techsters, 30-20.

Louisiana Tech (14-9, 5-5) was paced by 17-point performances from Kierra Anthony and Alexus Malone.

The two teams traded buckets throughout the opening five minutes of the contest before a Reauna Cleaver layup put the home team up 17-10 at the 2:40 mark of the first quarter. Down seven after the first period, the Blazers rattled off six quick points at the beginning of the second stanza to cut the lead to 19-18 following a Kuzmanic layup.

LA Tech found itself up two possessions once again with 5:07 to play before halftime, but a 10-5 run to close out the half on the back of five points from Childress cut the lead to 31-30 with 20 minutes remaining.

After both teams scored 10 points apiece in the third period, it was LA Tech who jumped out early in the fourth quarter as Taylor Stahly drained a 3-pointer to push the lead to 44-40 and force a Blazer timeout.

Barnes came alive out of that timeout, scoring eight of the Blazers' next 12 points to put UAB ahead 52-49 with 5:28 remaining in the game. The Lady Techsters answered in a big way, though, using a 7-2 run over the next 1:42 to go up 56-52.

Down four points with just over two minutes to play and needing a big bucket, Johnson found herself alone in the corner and banged home just her third 3-pointer of the season at the 1:56 mark to cut the lead to 58-57.

It was all Blazers for the remainder of the game as a Barnes triple put UAB up 60-58 before knocking down six free throws in the final 30 seconds to claim the 66-61 win.

UAB closes out its three-game road swing on Feb. 10 when the Green and Gold travels to Huntington, West Virginia, to square off with Marshall. Tipoff from the Cam Henderson Center is slated for Noon (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).