UAB Falls to Louisiana Tech in First Round of C-USA Tournament

Wednesday, March 11

Frisco, Texas

11:30 AM

UAB

-2011,126 CUSA

Louisiana Tech

-1515,612 CUSA

Louisiana Tech

UAB

UAB Falls to Louisiana Tech in First Round of C-USA Tournament

3/11/2020 3:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FRISCO, Texas – Fouls and turnovers proved to be costly as UAB women's basketball fell to Louisiana Tech 66-63 in the first round of the C-USA Women's Basketball Championship Wednesday morning in Frisco, Texas.

Four Blazers scored in double figures but UAB turned the ball over 20 times and shot just 4-for-19 from behind the arc while sending the Lady Techsters to the line 20 times in the game.

UAB (20-11, 12-6 C-USA) got out to the early lead in the first as Rachael Childress scored six points in a hurry. The Green and Gold led by three after 10 minutes of play, 13-10.

Louisiana Tech (15-15, 6-12 C-USA) responded with a strong second quarter, jumping out on a 12-4 to take a five-point lead in the first six minutes of the quarter. UAB scored the next six points to take a one-point lead but the Lady Techsters closed the half strong with a jumper and a three from Amber Hawkinson to take a 29-25 lead into halftime.

Angela Vendrell came out of the half firing on all cylinders for UAB, scoring the first nine points for the Blazers. However, Louisiana Tech had an answer for each basket, making an 8-0 run down the stretch that was broken up by a three from Margaret Whitley. LaTech held the 47-42 advantage going into the final 10 minutes of play.

UAB continued to fight in the fourth quarter, going on a 5-0 run with 5:11 left in the game to take a one-point lead. A three from Trista Magee with 3:09 remaining put UAB up one again, but Louisiana Tech regained the lead with four straight points, forcing the Blazers to send the Lady Techsters to the free throw line. With 13 seconds remaining in the game Miyah Barnes was fouled pulling up for a three to try to tie the game. Upon review it was determined she was in front of the arc, sending Barnes to the charity stripe for two shots. Barnes made both, pulling within one point, but Louisiana Tech would knock down two free throws with 2.5 seconds left on the ensuing possession to take the 66-63 victory.

"Unfortunately, in the conference tournament it is one and done, but I thought the girls played hard, they left it all on the court, that is all you can ask of them," said head coach Randy Norton. "Down the stretch it was going back and forth, it was about who was going to make shots and who was going to take care of the basketball. It became a one possession game and they were just a little bit better than we were at that time."

UAB shot 48.1 percent from the field, but just 21.1 percent from behind the arc. Childress, the Blazers leading scoring, was held to six points, the first time she was held below double figures since Nov. 10 against Oklahoma. Barnes led the team with 14 points followed by 13 from Vendrell and 10 each from Magee and Zakyia Weathersby. The Blazers also won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Lady Techsters 36-29. Magee led the Blazers with nine rebounds, one board shy of a double-double for the redshirt senior.

Keiunna Walker paced Louisiana Tech with 15 points, while sixth woman of the year Raizel Guinto scored 14, going 4-for-8 from behind the arc.

The Blazers now await their postseason destination which will be released at the conclusion of championship week.