UAB Drops Heartbreaker at Charlotte

Saturday, February 9

Charlotte, N.C.

3 p.m.

UAB

-195, 74 CUSA

Charlotte

-1311, 57 CUSA

UAB

Charlotte

UAB Drops Heartbreaker at Charlotte

2/9/2019 5:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

CHARLOTTE – A go ahead 3-pointer with 3:21 to play gave Charlotte the momentum and all it would need to push past the UAB women's basketball team 60-56 on Saturday afternoon at Halton Arena.

UAB (19-5, 7-4) led for 19:19 of the game, but was unable to eclipse the 60 point mark for the third time in last four games as it suffered its fifth loss, and fourth in league play, of the season.

"Our team has just been very inconsistent the last two weeks shooting the basketball," head coach Randy Norton said. "Defensively we are giving ourselves a chance and I feel like the effort is there. We will continue to learn and grow and get ready for the next game."

Rachael Childress led a trio of Blazers to score in double figures as she finished with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc. The Moulton, Ala., native tallied her ninth game this season with five or more made 3-pointers, while recording her 61st career double figure scoring game.

Katelynn Thomas netted 11 points on five made field goals for her 16th double figure game of the season and her first since accomplishing the task at UTEP on Jan. 17.

Miyah Barnes rounded out the Green and Gold to score in double figures as the junior finished with 10 points and a pair of assists. The junior averaged 13.0 points and 3.7 assists on the Blazers' three game road trip, being the only player on the team to score in double figures in every contest on the road swing.

UAB struggled offensively, shooting just 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the field and just 31.0 percent (9-of-29) from beyond the arc.

The Blazers led the 49ers in bench points (15-to-4), but were outscored in points in the paint (28-to-12), points off turnovers (8-to-6), second chance points (11-to-2) and fast break points (6-to-0).

UAB and Charlotte traded buckets in the opening minutes of the contest as a 49er layup tied the game at 8-8 for the fourth time to carry the contest into the first media timeout. Lea Kerstein came out of the break to hit a triple and hit a go ahead, 11-8, triple with 3:32 left in the frame. Childress added another triple with a minute later, but a Charlotte layup as time expired left UAB with just a 14-12 lead after the first quarter.

Charlotte (13-11, 5-7 C-USA) opened the second quarter on 6-2 run to regain a two point, 18-16, advantage with 7:26 to play in the half. Johnson stepped back to hit her ninth career 3-pointer with 6:42 left to regain the UAB lead that Barnes would add onto on the following possession with a jumper as the Blazers led 21-18. A 3-pointer off the hands of Trista Magee pushed the lead to four, but Charlotte would respond, netting five of the final shot of the half to tie game at 28 going into the locker room.

The Blazers opened the second half of a 5-2 run over the first three minutes capped off by Childress' third 3-pointer of the game to give the Blazers a 33-30 lead. Charlotte responded with a 12-3 run midway through the third quarter to regain a seven-point lead, its largest of the game. 3-pointers from Deanna Kuzmanic and Childress ended the run and gave the Blazers a 46-44 lead at the end of the period.

Barnes opened the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws to push the UAB lead to 48-44 with 9:36 remaining, but a Charlotte triple and a pair of free throws would allow the 49ers to regain the lead with 6:24 to play. Childress hit her fifth and final 3-pointer of the night with 5:14 to play, giving UAB a 53-49 lead, but a Charlotte 3-pointers on the ensuing possession flipped the momentum and gave the 49ers all they would need as they hit the last four of the game's final six shots down the stretch to secure the victory.

Jade Phillips led Charlotte with a game high 20 points and 12 rebounds. Laia Raventos also added 11 points.

UAB returns to the friendly confines of Bartow Arena to begin a four-game homestand, welcoming Marshall on Thursday, Feb. 14. Tip between the Blazers and Thundering Herd is set for 6 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 women's basketball's remaining four 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).