UAB Welcomes Chattanooga for WNIT Opener

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After wrapping up the most successful regular season in program history, the UAB women's basketball team gets set for its first postseason appearance since 2013 as it welcomes Chattanooga for the First Round of the WNIT at 6 p.m. on Thursday inside Bartow Arena.

UAB (26-6, 13-3) will be playing in its sixth WNIT in school history and its first postseason appearance under head coach Randy Norton when it faces off with Chattanooga. The Blazers are 12-8 all-time in postseason play, which includes two NCAA Tournament appearances, five WNIT appearances and a WBI title. UAB holds a 6-6 record in WNIT play.

"We are excited to have an opportunity to play in the WNIT with so many other great programs," Norton said. "Chattanooga has a great team and an outstanding program. As always, our focus will be to strive and play to the best of our ability for 40 minutes."

In its last WNIT appearance on March 20, 2013, UAB was paired with in-state foe Auburn in the first round and fell to the Tigers 80-57 in Auburn Arena. Chelsee Black led the team with 15 points in the loss, while Amber Jones and Karisma Chapman each added 10 points.

UAB is coming off a 72-57 loss to WKU in the Conference USA Championship game. Sophomore Rachael Childress led the way for the Blazers in the game with a team-high 16 points.

Childress leads the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game. Her 45.2 percent shooting from long range ranks second in C-USA and 10^th in the NCAA, while her 105 made triples is the most in a single season in UAB history. She is the third player in program history with 200 or more 3-pointers in her career and currently ranks third in career 3-pointers made (200).

Junior Deanna Kuzmanic ranks second on the team with 14.1 points per contest and leads the team with 1.4 steals per game. She is currently 24^th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,094 career points. Miyah Barnes is the only other Blazer averaging double figures with 11.1 points per game.

Barnes and Kuzmanic both rank in the top-three in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 2.3 and 2.2, respectively, paving the way for a 1.5 team assist/turnover ratio which ranks seventh in the NCAA.

The team has already broken multiple school records this season, including the most 3-pointers (260) and most assists (570) in a single season. The Blazers are currently on pace to break the school record for 3-point field goal percentage (39.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.5).

Chattanooga finished the regular season with a 17-12 overall record and an 8-6 record in the Southern Conference. In its most recent outing, the Mocs fell in double overtime in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament to UNCG, 70-66.

Keiana Gilbert leads a trio of Mocs in double figures, averaging 14.4 points per game. Aryanna Gilbert averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in the regular season, while Lakelyn Bouldin finished with 12.3 points.

Tickets for Thursday's game are $5 for the general public and can be purchased now at uabsports.com, while UAB students will receive free admission to the game by presenting a One Card at the door. Gold Cards are not valid for postseason play. Contact the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information via phone at (205) 975-UAB1 (205-975-8221) or via email at tickets@uab.edu for more information.

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).

UAB Welcomes Chattanooga for WNIT Opener

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Players Mentioned

Miyah Barnes

Rachael Childress

Deanna Kuzmanic

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics