Second Half Propels UAB Over North Texas

Thursday, January 24

Birmingham, Ala.

11 a.m.

UAB

-182, 61 CUSA

North Texas

-108, 33 CUSA

North Texas

UAB

Second Half Propels UAB Over North Texas

1/24/2019 2:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – A 38-point second half splurge lifted the (RV) UAB women's basketball team to a 70-60 victory over North Texas on Thursday afternoon at Bartow Arena.

UAB (18-2, 6-1) has won three consecutive games and 13 of its last 14 contests. The Blazers now hold a 4-3 lead over North Texas in games played inside Bartow Arena.

"I am really, really proud of our young ladies," head coach Randy Norton said. "That was a tough, hard fought Conference USA game. It was possession to possession and both teams played as hard as they could have possibly played."

Miyah Barnes led a quartet of Blazers in scoring as she finished with 20 points on a 6-of-7 day from the free throw line. The junior also added three rebounds, three assists and a trio of steals as she recorded her second consecutive home game with at least 20 points.

Imani Johnson and Deanna Kuzmanic both pitched in 15 points. Johnson was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line en route to her 15th career double figure performance, while Kuzmanic was also stellar was the charity stripe, going 7-for-8 and reeling in five rebounds.

Rachael Childress rounded out the Blazers in double figures as she netted 14 points, finishing the day perfect at the free throw line (6-of-6). The Moulton, Ala., native has recorded double digit scoring games in 10 straight contests and 16 times this season.

As a team UAB went 25-of-31 from the free throw line, tallying its second most makes this season. UAB won the battle in points off turnovers (16-to-13) and fast break points (13-to-4), while each bench netted 17 points. The squads also matched each other in assists (10), but UAB committed five fewer turnovers (11-to-16) than North Texas.

UAB rattled off seven unanswered points to begin the game as Kuzmanic netted jumpers on ensuing possessions, before North Texas would net its first basket 7:22 into the game. A Mean Green layup with 3:51 tied the game at 10 as the squads would trade buckets over the final minutes of the quarter to leave the game knotted at 14 after the opening frame.

A pair of free throws from Kuzmanic began the scoring for UAB in the second quarter, but a layup on the next possession for North Texas tied the game up for the fourth time. The Blazers went on a brief 4-1 run midway through the period before the Mean Green rattled off three unanswered points to cut UAB's lead to one, 25-24, with 4:46 to play in the first half. The offenses continued to match each other over the final minutes of the half to leave to take the contest tied at 32 going into the locker room at halftime.

The Blazers opened the second half on a 7-1 run as Johnson hit a layup to push UAB's lead to six, 39-33, a minute and a half into the third quarter. North Texas answered once again and tied the game for the ninth time with 6:16 left in the third quarter. UAB closed the frame on a 10-6 run as Barnes netted five points over the final five minutes to give the Blazers a 51-47 lead.

The team's defenses stepped up in the fourth quarter, holding each other scoreless through the first two minutes before a pair of North Texas free throws ended the scoring drought. Another set of free throws from the Mean Green tied the game for the 11th, and final, time at 51. A layin from Katelynn Thomas with 7:01 to play gave UAB a lead it would not relinquish as the Blazers closed the game on a 19-8 run, hitting 13 free throws down the stretch to secure their 18th win of the season.

"I am proud of our second half and the way our girls were able to close the game out down the stretch," Norton said. "They got some key stops defensively and then stepped up to the line at crunch time and knocked our free throws down. It is a great win for us and we will celebrate this tonight as we get ready for Rice."

Terriell Bradley and Madi Townley paced North Texas with 16 points each. Velma Mitchell also pitched in 12 points.

UAB closes its brief homestand on Saturday when it welcomes Rice to Bartow Arena for National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Tipoff between the Blazers and Owls is set for 1 p.m.

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 five of women's basketball home games. 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 Instgram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).