UAB Comes Up Short In Conference Opener To North Texas

Friday, January 1

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 p.m.

UAB

-52,01 CUSA

North Texas

-42,10 CUSA

North Texas

UAB

UAB Comes Up Short In Conference Opener To North Texas

1/1/2021 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – Margaret Whitley scored a career-high 35 points, 21 from behind the arc, in the Blazers' 74-70 loss to North Texas on Friday afternoon in Bartow Arena.

Junior LaMiracle Sims recorded a career-high 15 boards in the loss, while senior Zakyia Weathersby just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

UAB (5-2, 0-1 C-USA) and the Mean Green (4-2, 1-0 C-USA) went back-and-forth to open the game. The Blazers held a 10-7 lead three minutes in, before North Texas found its groove. The Mean Green went on a 17-10 run, going into the second quarter up 24-20.

Junior Sara Rosenfeldt and Whitley led the team with seven points each in the first frame, with Whitley hitting two shots from range.

Whitley went on an offensive tear in the second quarter, scoring 14 of UAB's 17 points, and sinking three 3-pointers.

The Blazer defense held the Mean Green to just 10 points, going into the half up 37-34.

In the first two quarters, UAB shot 12 of 34 from the field, 6 of 14 from behind the arc and 7 of 12 from the line.

After Whitley opened the third quarter with a jumper with 8:18 on the clock, the Blazers went cold, not making a basket for more than four and a half minutes.

Sims broke the scoring drought, making one of her two free throws after being fouled by UNT. She ended the quarter with three points and four boards.

Freshman Emily Klaczek also scored her first field goal as a Blazer in the third, and UAB entered the fourth up 52-51.

Despite seven points from Whitley and five from freshman Caitlynn Daniels, the Blazers were outscored 23-18 to finish the game.

UAB shot 31.9 percent (22 of 69) from the field, its second-lowest shooting percentage in a game this season.

"On a day where we didn't shoot it well as a team, we have to find a way to win with our defense," head coach Randy Norton said. "We gave up way too many second opportunities. It is important that everyone sticks to the process of learning and growing every game. As poorly as we played, it still went down to the wire. I'm confident our team will bounce back tomorrow."

The Blazers will look to even up the series with UNT tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in Bartow Arena.

Women's basketball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2020-21 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to all home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball games in addition to all women's basketball home contests. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.