Blazers Close Regular Season With 95-69 Win

Thursday, March 7

Ruston, La.

6:30 p.m.

UAB

24-5 (12-4)

Louisiana Tech

14-15 (6-10)

UAB

Louisiana Tech

Blazers Close Regular Season With 95-69 Win

3/7/2019 8:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

RUSTON, La. – A season high 95-point performance on 17 made 3-pointers lifted the UAB women's basketball team to a 95-69 regular season finale victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday night in Ruston.

UAB closes the regular season with a 24-5 overall record and a 12-4 mark in Conference USA play, as it finishes in second place in the final league standings.

"I am really, really pleased with our team," head coach Randy Norton said. "It is very indicative on how we have been practicing over the last three weeks. I feel like our team is really starting to peak at the right time and what a great way to close out the regular season as we head to Dallas next week for the conference tournament. The first stat that stuck out to me was 31 assists and 11 turnovers so we really shared the basketball and we shot really well. I am pleased with how we are playing right now and we are in a great place."

While the 3-point shot was working for the Blazers, it was Katelynn Thomas who led UAB with a career high 25 points, matching her career best of 11 made field goals. Thomas was 11-of-13 from the field and reeled in five rebounds with a block.

Deanna Kuzmanic finished the game with 25 points, matching her career high in 3-pointers with seven. The senior also dished out 10 assists for her second career double-double.

Rachael Childress rounded out the Blazers in double figures, finishing with 22 points on an 8-of-14 night from the field with six made 3-pointers.

The Blazers outscored the Lady Techsters in the paint (46-to-30), on fast breaks (8-to-2) and off the bench (20-12).

UAB opened the game on a 9-0 run capped off by the first 3-pointer of the night from Kuzmanic, forcing Louisiana Tech to use its first timeout 2:15 into the game. The Blazers came out of the break and went on another run as a Childress 3-pointer with 3:36 to play in the frame push the Blazers' lead to 14, its largest of the opening period. The Lady Techsters closed the finale three minutes hitting four of the last five shots, but it was the Blazers ahead 25-15 after one.

The Green and Gold opened the second quarter on 9-2 run as Miyah Barnes poured in consecutive triples on ensuing possessions followed by a jumper from Angela Vendrell to give the Blazers a 37-17 advantage. Louisiana Tech cut the UAB lead to 14 with 6:04 to play, but the UAB offense drained its third and fourth 3-pointer of the frame to push the lead back to 18. The Blazers closed the final three minutes of the first half on an 11-2 run to lead 57-31 at halftime.

The teams opened the third quarter trading buckets through the first five minutes, taking the game to the media timeout. Kuzmanic came out of the break to hit her sixth 3-pointer of the night, pushing UAB's lead to 34, its largest of the game, with 4:25 to play in the period. The Lady Techsters answered with a brief 6-1 run, but the Blazers closed the final minutes with another triple and a pair of layups to lead 84-54 with 10 minutes to play.

Louisiana Tech outscored UAB 15-11 in the final 10 minutes, despite a pair of triples from Lea Kerstein and Childress, but it was the Blazers who cruised to the 26-point victory.

Kierra Anthony led Louisiana Tech with a game high 27 points on 12 made field goals.

UAB returns to action on Thursday, March 14 in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Blazers will play the winner of the No. 7 Charlotte vs. No. 10 Louisiana Tech. Tipoff for the quarterfinal contest is set for 1:30 p.m. on Court A at the Star in Frisco.

Tickets to the Conference USA Championship can be purchased online at SeatGeek.com.

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).