The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Women's Basketball Torches Samford, 83-50
11/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2013
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior Karisma Chapman posted her second-straight double-double of the season to lead the UAB women's basketball team to a 83-50 win over Samford on Sunday. Chapman was honored before today's game for becoming the 26th player in UAB history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark in her career.
"I just think that Coach Norton encouraged them before the game," said associate head coach Taren Martin. "He talked to them about playing a complete 40 minutes. We lacked thatwhen we were at Chattanooga. A simple timeout called just reminded them we have to get back to what we do, move the ball side-to-side and to the rim."
UAB (3-3) had a solid offensive day, as the team shot a season-best 57 percent from the field, while holding Samford (1-3) to just 29.6 percent shooting on the day. Five different Blazers tallied double-digits for the first time since 2008.
"We just have a group that is very unselfish," remarked Martin. "They love each other. They are a bunch of sisters. They are going to fight, attack the ball, look for the open man, move the ball side-to-side, be unselfish, and crash the boards. That is what they have been doing. I think these last games have shown that we can do those things. We are just putting it together now."
The Blazers continued to dominate opponents under the basket, grabbing 48 rebounds to just 20 for the Bulldogs. They also out-scored Samford 30-12 in the paint and tallied 15 second-chance points, while holding the Bulldogs to zero.
It was the second consecutive game the Blazers had at least four players score in double-figures. Chapman's 24 points led the team, and fellow senior Ashley Grimes posted 16 points. Junior Miranda Burroughs scored a career-high 14 points after going 5-5 from the field, including 4-4 behind the arc.
Sophomores Chelsee Black and Brittany Winborne added 13 and 10 pointes, respectively. Winborne was also perfect from the field (3-3) and went 4-4 from the free throw line on the way to a new career-high.
UAB was on fire from the tip, as it opened the game with a 9-0 start and held Samford scoreless until the 15:09 mark when Shelby Campbell hit a three to put the Bulldogs on the board. Chapman scored UAB's first four points and had 16 points in the first half.
The Green and Gold kept the pressure on Samford and closed the half with another 9-0 run that was capped off by a buzzer-beating three from Burroughs.
Coming out of halftime, UAB went on a 22-4 run over the span of 10 minutes to extend its lead over Samford in the second half. The Blazers stayed hot for the rest of the game, taking a 36-point lead, largest of the season, with 1:13 remaining and eventually recording a 33-point victory over cross-town rival Samford.
UAB will be back on the road this week for the Plaza Lights Classic tournament in Kansas City, Mo. The Blazers are slated to take on Eastern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. CT and then face Sam Houston State on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. CT.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's basketball news, follow @UAB_WBB.
Notes: Today's game marked the beginning to the inaugural Red Mountain Rivalry. UAB and Samford will face off in a yearly series, alternating as the home team ... UAB opened the game with nine consecutive points to take an early 9-0 lead ... UAB held the lead for the entirety of the game and led by at least six points since the 17:39 mark of the first half ... The Blazers led Samford by 36 points at one point on Sunday, its largest lead of the 2013-14 season ... For the second straight game, at least four Blazers scored in double-figures ... UAB shot 6-for-8 from beyond the arc, its best output from downtown this season ... Senior forward Karisma Chapman led the team with a season-high 24 points on the day. Chapman has finished in double-figures in 11 straight games. In addition, the Calumet City, Ill. native notched her fourth career double-double after matching her career-best with 13 rebounds ... Sophomore forward Kayla Anderson swatted four shots, marking the fifth straight game she has had at least three blocks ... Sophomore guard Chelsee Black had 13 points, her fifth consecutive contest with at least 10 points ... Junior guard Miranda Burroughs was a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc, scoring a career-best 14 points.
