Blazers Eye Second Win of 2018 WNIT at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – The UAB women's basketball team seeks to win back-to-back WNIT games for the first time since the 2000-01 season when it makes the short drive to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech in the Round of 32 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CST on Sunday.

UAB (27-6, 13-3) is coming off a 60-50 win over Chattanooga on Thursday, its first win in the WNIT since an 81-77 decision over Davidson on March 15, 2007 and its first postseason win since winning the WBI title, 68-60, over Cal State Bakersfield on March 27, 2011.

"We are thrilled to still be playing in March," head coach Randy Norton said. "Georgia Tech is a big and athletic team. Our focus in Sunday's game will be to play UAB basketball to the best of our ability. We just need to play hard, smart, together and ultimately have fun."

Senior Kara Rawls paced four UAB players in double figures in Thursday's game against Chattanooga, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds. Katelynn Thomas and Deanna Kuzmanic each scored 11 points, while Miyah Barnes added 10 points of her own.

Throughout the season, sophomore Rachael Childress has been UAB's top offensive performer, averaging 14.1 points per game with most of her damage coming from long range, where she is shooting a team-best 44.2 percent.

Kuzmanic and Barnes join Childress in double figures, averaging 14.0 points and 11.0 points per game, respectively. The pair are also two of the most unselfish players on the team, as Barnes has dished out a team-best 162 assists and a 2.3 assist/turnover ratio, while Kuzmanic has recorded 126 assists while posting a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio.

Bench play has also been key for the Blazers this season, outscoring opponents 714-509 in that category. Thomas leads the charge for the Green and Gold as a reserve, averaging 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Georgia Tech (19-13, 6-10) enters Sunday's game coming off a huge 85-32 home victory against Bethune-Cookman on the back of five double-figure performers. Francesca Pan led the charge for the Jackets in the win with 19 points.

Pan is the Jackets' top offensive performer, leading the team with 14.4 points per game. Zaire O'Neil adds in 9.8 points per game, while Elo Edeferioka is contributing 7.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 6.5 boards per contest.

The two teams will meet for just the seventh time and the first time since 2005 when they take to the hardwood on Sunday. Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 5-1. The Blazers' lone win over the Jackets came on Nov. 23, 1991, when they won 91-72 in Birmingham.

Fans can purchase tickets online for Sunday's game for $3 by visiting Georgia Tech's website or at the ticket office at McCamish Pavilion. The game is also set to be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.

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).

Blazers Eye Second Win of 2018 WNIT at Georgia Tech

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Players Mentioned

Miyah Barnes

Rachael Childress

Deanna Kuzmanic

Kara Rawls

Katelynn Thomas

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics