UAB Downs UTEP 74-48 In El Paso

Thursday, January 17

El Paso, Texas

7 p.m.

UAB

16-2, 4-1

UTEP

4-13, 1-3

UAB

UTEP

UAB Downs UTEP 74-48 In El Paso

1/17/2019 10:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

EL PASO, Texas – The (RV) UAB women's basketball team cruised to victory on Thursday night when it defeated UTEP 74-48 at the Don Haskins Center.

UAB improved to 16-2 on the season and 4-1 in Conference USA play as it won its 16th consecutive road game, dating back to the 2017-18 season.

"I am really pleased with that win tonight," head coach Randy Norton said. "We did not get off to a great start and I could kind of feel it in the locker room and the warmup that we were not quite where we needed to be. But they regrouped and put together some really quality minutes. I thought it was a good team win, our bench came in and contributed and I feel like as a team we are starting to grow in that area."

Rachael Childress led all scorers with 18 points on a 6-of-9 night from beyond the arc. One of the nation's leaders in 3-point field goals per game, the junior recorded her 13th game this season with three or more 3-pointers and her fourth game with six or more.

Katelynn Thomas finished the game with 16 points, 14 of which came in the second half, registering her sixth consecutive double figure game and 15th of the season.

Lea Kerstein rounded out the Blazers in double figures as she finished with a career high 14 points, matching her career best of four made 3-pointers. The redshirt sophomore also added three rebounds and an assist.

As a team the Blazers shot 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from long range to improve to 5-0 this season when shooting 40 percent or better from the 3-point line. In their previous two games in El Paso the Blazers have knocked down 30 shots from beyond the arc.

UAB struggled offensively to begin the game, not hitting its first field goal until the 4:11 mark of the first quarter and found itself in an early 8-4 deficit. A triple from the Miners stretched their lead to 11, their largest lead of the game, but Trista Magee hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to begin the comeback. The Blazers closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to lead 14-13 after the opening frame.

The offensive woes diminished entirely as the Blazers rattled off six 3-pointers in the second quarter, beginning with Deanna Kuzmanic's in the opening minute to spark the offense. UAB held UTEP scoreless for three minutes as it went on an 8-0 run to lead 22-14 with 6:26 to go in the half. Following the second Miner field goal of the quarter with 6:10 to play, the Blazers went on a 16-3 run to close the first half and led 38-19 going into halftime.

Thomas opened the third quarter on a 6-2 personal run, stretching UAB's lead to 21 before Childress hit a 3-pointer with 5:12 to go in the quarter to give the Blazers a 47-25 lead at the media timeout. The Miners went on a 6-4 run over the ensuing three minutes, but the Blazers defense stepped up once again and held UTEP scoreless over the final 1:15 to give UAB a 51-31 lead with 10 minutes to play.

After trading buckets to open the fourth quarter, Kerstein connected on three consecutive 3-pointers on ensuing possessions to push the Blazers' lead to 67-40 with 5:04 to play in the game. A field goal from Margaret Whitley with 4:34 remaining gave UAB a 29-point lead, its largest of the game, as the Blazers cruised to the 74-48 victory.

UAB closes its two-game Texas swing on Saturday when it takes on UTSA. Tipoff between the Blazers and Roadrunners is set for 1 p.m. from the Convocation Center.

Women's basketball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to home baseball and softball games in addition to all six of women's basketball's remaining home contests. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.

For more information on the UAB women's basketball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Instagram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).