The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Accept WNIT Bid
3/19/2019 8:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – For the second consecutive season the UAB women's basketball team has earned a berth into post season play as the Blazers accepted a bid to play in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), on Monday night.
The Blazers will face long-time, in state rival Troy on Thursday, March 21 at Trojan Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
"We are thrilled to be invited to play in the WNIT," head coach Randy Norton said. "The NCAA and WNIT are both very prestigious tournaments to be a part of and we are excited to be playing in the post season again this year."
UAB (25-6, 12-4 C-USA) has amassed a 53-13 record over the last two seasons and put together the first consecutive 25 plus wins seasons in program history. The Green and Gold placed second in this year's Conference USA standings, while Rachael Childress earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors and Deanna Kuzmanic and Miyah Barnes were Second Team selections.
The Blazers ranked among the nation's best this season in 3-point field goal percentage (36.3 percent), 3-point field goals per game (9.0) and set the school record for triples in a season (280).
The Green and Gold have reached the post season for the 10th time in school history and first the first time in back-to-back seasons since 1999-00, 2000-01. UAB holds a combined 12-9 record in postseason play with a 7-7 mark in the WNIT.
UAB made it to the WNIT last season, recording a 60-50 victory over Chattanooga in the first round at Bartow Arena, but fell to Georgia Tech in the following round. The victory over the Mocs was the first postseason win for UAB since defeating Cal State Bakersfield in the CBI in 2011, while it was the first win in the WNIT since 2007.
Troy (22-8) finished third in the Sun Belt Conference and won at least 20 games for the third time in four seasons. The Trojans lead the Sun Belt in scoring average (82.1) and rebounding average (50.6).
UAB is 8-2 all time over Troy but this meeting marks the first one in postseason play. The Blazers have taken the previous two meetings, including an 81-77 victory at Troy on Dec. 18, 2016.
This marks the 22nd year of the WNIT as the 64-team field consists of 32 automatic berths and 32 at-large selections with all games being played at host school sites. 41 teams in the year's field won at least 20 games or more, while the tournament boasts five teams from C-USA which ties the Big East for most schools from one conference. Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, WKU and Old Dominion join UAB as representatives for C-USA in this year's tournament.
Fans wishing to make the drive to Troy can purchase tickets on TroyTrojans.com or at the Trojan Arena Ticket Office. All tickets are general admission and are being sold for $5.
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).
The Blazers will face long-time, in state rival Troy on Thursday, March 21 at Trojan Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
"We are thrilled to be invited to play in the WNIT," head coach Randy Norton said. "The NCAA and WNIT are both very prestigious tournaments to be a part of and we are excited to be playing in the post season again this year."
UAB (25-6, 12-4 C-USA) has amassed a 53-13 record over the last two seasons and put together the first consecutive 25 plus wins seasons in program history. The Green and Gold placed second in this year's Conference USA standings, while Rachael Childress earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors and Deanna Kuzmanic and Miyah Barnes were Second Team selections.
The Blazers ranked among the nation's best this season in 3-point field goal percentage (36.3 percent), 3-point field goals per game (9.0) and set the school record for triples in a season (280).
The Green and Gold have reached the post season for the 10th time in school history and first the first time in back-to-back seasons since 1999-00, 2000-01. UAB holds a combined 12-9 record in postseason play with a 7-7 mark in the WNIT.
UAB made it to the WNIT last season, recording a 60-50 victory over Chattanooga in the first round at Bartow Arena, but fell to Georgia Tech in the following round. The victory over the Mocs was the first postseason win for UAB since defeating Cal State Bakersfield in the CBI in 2011, while it was the first win in the WNIT since 2007.
Troy (22-8) finished third in the Sun Belt Conference and won at least 20 games for the third time in four seasons. The Trojans lead the Sun Belt in scoring average (82.1) and rebounding average (50.6).
UAB is 8-2 all time over Troy but this meeting marks the first one in postseason play. The Blazers have taken the previous two meetings, including an 81-77 victory at Troy on Dec. 18, 2016.
This marks the 22nd year of the WNIT as the 64-team field consists of 32 automatic berths and 32 at-large selections with all games being played at host school sites. 41 teams in the year's field won at least 20 games or more, while the tournament boasts five teams from C-USA which ties the Big East for most schools from one conference. Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, WKU and Old Dominion join UAB as representatives for C-USA in this year's tournament.
Fans wishing to make the drive to Troy can purchase tickets on TroyTrojans.com or at the Trojan Arena Ticket Office. All tickets are general admission and are being sold for $5.
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).
Players Mentioned
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