The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisiana Tech
UAB Suffers Loss To Louisiana Tech, 61-55
1/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Box Score 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's basketball team saw an 18-point lead disappear as Louisiana Tech came back to top the Blazers, 61-55, on Thursday night in Bartow Arena.
"Obviously this was a disappointing loss," head coach Randy Norton said. "We led for 35 minutes and had an 18-point lead. Just looking at the stats, they shot 59-percent in the second half and we made 26-percent of our shots. You will not win basketball games when you shoot that. The girls tried to stick to the game plan. Louisiana Tech has been averaging 18 offensive rebounds, and we held them to 11 and forced 19 turnovers."
UAB (7-8, 1-3 C-USA) held Louisiana Tech (8-7, 3-1 C-USA) to just 20 points on 32.1 percent shooting in the first half, but the Lady Techsters came back to score 41 points on 59.1 percent shooting in the second half.
"When you hold a team to 20 points in the first half and give up 41 in the second half, it is disappointing but can happen," Norton stated. "You have to give them credit though. They were flat out knocking down shots."
Senior Janae Smith led UAB with 16 points on the night, junior Chelsee Black finished with 14 points and senior Miranda Burroughs added eight. Four players finished in double figures for Louisiana Tech.
Smith led the Blazers on the boards, with seven rebounds. Nine of the 10 players that saw action tallied a rebound on the night. UAB matched its season-high with nine blocks. Junior Kayla Anderson recorded five of those, her second-straight game with five or more.
The Blazers also capitalized on turnovers by Louisiana Tech, scoring 22 points and forcing 19 turnovers on the night.
It was a battle from the tip, as both teams traded baskets for the first six minutes of the game. UAB opened a five-point lead after a jumper by junior Bianca Dufelmeier at the 13:36 mark, then Louisiana Tech answered right back to make it, 14-11.
Black picked up a steal and ran it all the way down the court for a fast break layup to put UAB back up by five, 16-11. With the Blazers up by four, Anderson fought for a steal at the top of the key and found fellow junior Dy'man Webb, who converted a layup on the other end to give UAB a, 20-14, lead.
A basket by Louisiana Tech cut it back to four, but Black hit a 3-pointer to give the Blazers a, 23-16, lead with 8:27 to play. Freshman T'erra Lewis knocked down a 3-pointer two minutes later to put UAB up by eight.
A steal by junior Brittany Winborne gave UAB the ball back and Smith found Burroughs for her first three of the game to make it, 29-18, with 6:28 remaining. The Blazers closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a, 35-20, lead into the half.
Out of halftime, Louisiana Tech's Whitney Frazier scored the first two baskets to cut the lead down to 11, but Anderson connected on a layup and then found Burroughs for a 3-pointer off a Lady Techster turnover to push UAB's lead to, 40-24.
Burroughs capped of a 7-0 run by sinking two free throws to give the Blazers their largest lead, 42-24, with 17:11 left on the clock. Louisiana Tech took advantage of a scoring drought for UAB with a 6-0 run. Black halted the three-minute dry spell for the Blazers with her second 3-pointer of the night keeping UAB in front, 45-30, with 13:49 to play.
However, the Lady Techsters continued to climb back into the game and eventually tied it up, 53-53, with 2:47 remaining. Louisiana Tech took its first lead since the 16:59 mark in the first half, 55-53, after connecting on two free throws.
UAB was within two points, 57-55, but could not get a shot to go as Louisiana Tech held on for the, 61-55, win.
"There is no time for us to hang our heads," Norton remarked. "We have to get ready for Southern Miss on Saturday. They have a really good basketball team and are one of the top teams in our conference. We will challenge our girls to keep playing hard. We will continue to get better and help these young ladies learn how to close games."
UAB will return to Bartow Arena on Saturday afternoon as it hosts Southern Miss at 2 p.m. CT. The game will feature a Belles & Whistles event beginning at 1 p.m. as well as halftime recognition of the 1999-2000 NCAA Sweet 16 Team.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For women's basketball news, follow @UAB_WBB.
