The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Troy
Blazers Cruise To Victory Over Troy
12/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior Chelsee Black posted a career-high 31 points en route to a 89-67 win over Troy on Friday evening at Bartow Arena.
UAB (6-4) shot 54.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range compared to 35.1 percent shooting from the floor for Troy (4-4).
“I like the way we started the game,” said UAB head coach Randy Norton. “We challenged the girls to come out with a lot of energy. I thought we came out very focused and followed the game plan.”
Senior guard Black led the Blazers with 31 points hitting nine of her fourteen field goal attempts, including five from long range. The Bessemer, Ala., native also notched three assists and two rebounds in the contest. Freshman Deanna Kuzmanic added 19 points and also knocked down five triples.
“Chelsee missed the South Alabama game with an injury, but she bounced back well tonight,” added Norton. “She is our general on the floor and she really stepped up and played well.”
Senior Brittany Winborne continued her dominance in the paint. She notched 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds, her second consecutive game with a double-double. Sophomore Keonna Farmer went 5-of-8 from the field and scored 12 points in the contest.
The Blazers exploded out of the gate jumping out to an early 25-10 lead at the end of the first quarter due in part to two Kuzmanic treys. UAB kept up the intensity in the second quarter and jumped out to a 48-23 advantage following another three from Kuzmanic. Troy would close the gap to 15 late in the second quarter, but UAB was persistent continuing to hit shot after shot in the second frame. The Blazers extended the advantage to 23 on a deep three from Black late in the half to give the Blazers a 53-29 lead at the break.
The Blazers would continue to roll in the second half, opening up a 30-point lead late in the third quarter before the Trojans battled back to within 19 midway through the fourth quarter. Troy never got within striking distance, however, as UAB cruised to the 32-point win.
UAB will return to action Monday, when it closes out the non-conference schedule by taking on Samford at 1:00 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.
The Conference USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship is set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men’s tournament as well as the women’s semifinals and championship will be played at the Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women’s first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB’s Bartow Arena.
For more information on the UAB women’s basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB) and on Instagram (Instagram.com/uab_wbball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) and on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
