The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Miami
UAB Falls to Miami, 70-54
11/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB senior forward Tamika Dukes scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but the Blazers dropped a 70-54 decision to the Miami Hurricanes (4-0) at Bartow Arena on Saturday afternoon. Junior guard Amanda Peterson led UAB with 14 points as the Blazers fell to 1-2 on the season.
Peterson hit four three-pointers in the contest, moving her into sixth on the school's all-time 3-point list. The Homewood, Ala., native surpassed Felicia Jackson with her 142nd career three.
"We had a lot of good, clean shots, but they just didn't go down," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "We're growing, learning, and playing is the only way we are going to get better. We're just going to go back and practice over it. It's going to be process."
The Blazers took the first step of that process on the defensive side of the ball, forcing 21 turnovers while giving up just 13.
"We did a pretty good job with the transition and making them turn the ball over," Smith said. "That's a big deal to us."
Dukes, who has reached double-figures in all three games this season, went 3-4 from the line. She leads the team shooting 91 percent from the line this year. Freshman Jasmine Green was perfect from the stripe, going 5-5 with seven points and seven boards, while freshman guard Jala Harris added nine points and three steals.
UAB got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. Miami fought back, and the two teams battled closely until the Canes began to pull away with four minutes to play in the first half. Miami took a 13 point advantage into the break, leading, 35-22.
The Blazers recharged to open the second half, cutting the Canes' lead to nine within the first five minutes. That was as close as UAB would get, though, as Miami widened the margin to as many as 19 with a minute to play.
UAB will hit the road again on Tuesday, traveling to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the Florida Gators. Tipoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. (CT).
